■i '. 


Mm 









LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chap,.r.L. Copyright No. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 







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c 



pq 



A CENTURY 



OF EDUCATION; 



-OR- 



The hiistory of the Schools of Burgetts- 
town, Washington County, Penn- 
sylvania, For One iiundred Years. 



BY- 



WILLIAM MELVIN. 



CLAYSVILLE, PA., 

Melvin Printing Coropany. 

1898. 



V ,.<L\ 

9 



S779 



Entered, Accordini; to act of Con«;rtSS, 

By WILLIAM MELVIN, 

In the Utiice of the Librarian of Congress, at Washini^ton, D. C. 

All Rii^hts Reserved. 



2nd COPY, 
1898, 



To David Reed, president ; Moses L. Cooke, secretary ; W. 
Wesley Pyles, treasurer ; Samuel Scott, Francis L. An- 
drews, and Charles H. Zeig-ler, constituting^- the School 
Board of Smith township. Washing-ton County Pa., for 
1S97-8, and 

To William T. Reed, president ; Dr. John C. Nesbit, secreta- 
ry ; John W, Bryan, treasurer; John D. McCabe, Mat- 
thew W. Scott, and John A. Russell, constituting- the 
School Board of Burg-ettstown, Washing-ton Countv, Pa.,^ 

for 1897-8, ' ' .- 

This work is respectfully dedicated in g-rateful recog-nition to 
them and their predecessors for their kindly support. 



t^r^KJ^^^OE. 



A NUMBER of facts relating- to the School History of 
Smith Township and Burg-ettstown have been published by 
the author. He now presents them in this form for their bet- 
ter preservation for the benefit of thjse who may dwell here 
in the future. This is not a complete history, but it is as com- 
plete as circumstances would permit. Our forefathers made 
history every day, but they failed, in too many instances, to 
record it for the benefit of their descendants. Let local his- 
tory be better preserved hereafter. 

We are indebted to Mrs, Ann Hays, Mrs. M. M. Brock- 
man and John L. Proudtit, Esq., older citizens now deceased, 
and to Mrs. Esther Wood, Joseph P. Leech, Josephus Miller 
and many others for valuable information. Thanks are due 
Hon. Boyd Crumrine for use of his countv historv. 

Biir<(ettsiiKi'u, Pa., Jfdv jo, /S(^S'. 



A Century of Education* 



CHAPTER I. 

HISTORY OF BURGETTSTOWN. 

Burg-ettstown is situated on the Pan-Handle railroad 27 
miles west of Pittsburg- by rail and 25 by wag-on road. It is 
in the northern part of Washington county. The postof&ce 
in the old town is 17^ miles from the court house, and 14 
miles east of Steubenville, Ohio. 

Settlements were made in the north end of the county 
before the Revolutionary War. In 1783 there were three log- 
cabins in the old town, and the Burgett flouring mill was 
completed that year. George Burgett, administrator of Se- 
bastian Burgett, laid out a town on the north side of the 
"West Boston" patent with Peter Kidd as surveyor, January 
27, 1795. The town was called West Boston. In 1860 the 
population did not exceed 250. Upon the completion of the 
Pan-Handle railroad in 1865 the selling of town lots and the 
erection of building-s began, thus starting a new town, three- 
fourths of a mile north of the old one. The new town ex- 
tended its limits south and the old one north. The first step 
towards uniting the tw ) towns under a municipal government 
was in March, 1877, but nothing- came of it. The next meet- 
ing was held in July, 1830, which resulted in the incorpora- 
tion of the two towns, March 23, 1881. The main street — 
Washingfton — is one and one-fourth miles lonar. 



7 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

ChurchEvS. — The United Presbyterian, org-anized about 
the year 1800. Membership 260. Rev. David W. Carson, D. 
D., was the last pastor, installed in October, 1878, and releas- 
ed January 25, 1898. 

The First Presbyterian, org-anized the third Tuesday of 
October, 1849. Present pastor is Rev. Perc^- H. Gordon with 
a membership of about 480. 

The Westminster Presbyterian church, org-anized June 
26, 1893. Present pastor is Rev. Harry Nesbit. Member- 
ship, 236. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

In the early history of the town those who inclined to 
the Methodist belief worshiped from house to house and 
in the old woolen factory. The date of the org-anization 
of the society can not now be given. It was first attached to 
the Florence Circuit and later to the Midway Circuit. The 
brick school house, built in 1834, was used by the society un- 
til it was sold by the school directors in 1867. The society 
built a neat frame structure on the "Slow and Easy" patent 
in 1871, near the present school building. The society was 
a small one. The early settlers inclined more to the teach- 
ing's of .Calvin and Knox than to the teachings of Wesley. On 
account of death and removals the society ceased to be self- 
sustaining. When, in 1885, it was disbanded, the house 
was sold to Mr. M. R. Parks, who remodeled it and now 
occupies it as a dwelling-. 

Newspapers. — The Burg-ettstown Enterprise appeared as 
a monthly March 1, 1879, John P. Donnan local editor and 
manager, and printed b}- C. Kncpper in his Mansfield (now 
Carneg-ie) office. It appeared as a weekly August 3, 1S81, 
with J. Howard Cramer, editor and proprietor. The Call 
appeared August 2, 1881, with M. R. Allen, editor and pro- 
prietor. In 1887 Mr. Allen was elected Clerk of the Court of 
Quarter Sessions of Washington County, when he sold out 
to Mr. Cramer. The two papers appeared as the Enterprise- 
Call Dec. 29, 1887. After the fire of Nov. 2<), 1895, which 



FIRST SCHOOL IN SMITH TOWNSHIP. O 

destroyed the plant and a number of business houses, the 
"O?//" part of the title was dropped. 

The Postoffices. — There are two postoffices in the bor- 
oug-h. The first was established in the old town and named 
Burg-ettstown and went into operation January 1, 1811, with 
Thomas Miller as postmaster. The second was established 
in the new town and named Cardville, in honor of W. W. 
Card, then one of the railroad officials, and went into opera- 
tion April 1, 1870, with James A. Galbraith as postmaster, 
and John D. McCabe as assistant. In about one week after 
the office went into effect Mr. McCabe received a commission 
as postmaster. In August, 1883, the name of the Cardville 
office was chang-ed to Burg-ettstown, and the old Burgetts- 
town office was abolished. Before the chang-e took effect the 
postoffice department re-established an office in the south end 
or old town, and named it South Burg-ettstown. 

The Burg-ettstown National Bank was established 1879. 

The population at present is over one thousand. 

The town contains the usual number of various kinds of 
stores, shops, industrial establishments, contractors and pro- 
fessionals. 



CHAPTER II. 

FIKST SCHOOL IN SMITH TOWNSHIP. 

The school history of Burgettstown is closely allied with 
that of Smith township. The territory now embraced within 
the present limits of Burg-ettstown was a part of Smith town- 
ship for one hundred years. This county was org-anized 
March 28, 17S1 ; Smith township org-anized July 15th, of that 
3'ear, and was named for the Rev. Joseph Smith, by James 
Edgar. 

The first school in Smith township was taught before the 
close of the Revolution, by William Lowry, a surveyor and a 
soldier of that war, on a farm in the first precinct, now owned 
by Maxwell Work. 



9 THE FIRST TEACHER. 

Mr. Lowry died in Beaver county, Pa. 

Mr. Sinclair taug-ht in the Cinder Hill district some time 
before the year 1800. 

In 1796 James Criswell, Robert Colvill and Nathaniel 
Jenkins were assessed as teachers. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE FIRST TEACHER. 

The first teacher of whom we have any knowledg-e was 
George McKeag. He was a lot owner in 1798. He taug-ht 
in the winter of 1798-99. In 1803 he taught in Smith town- 
ship, on a farm now owned by Prof. S. C. Farrar and broth- 
ers. He was one of the five Smith township teachers men- 
tioned in 1807. He died in Texas. 

THE FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE. 

George Burgett leased to David Bruce, Robert Boland 
and James Wylie, trustees of the Burgettstown school, a lot. 
No. 45, in the town of West Boston, (the original name of the 
town, ) bounded by Libertj- street, and a lot of Joseph Cald- 
well, dated April 23, 1807. This was the first school build- 
ing in Burgettstown. The house is now owned and occupied 
by John Divitt. 

TEACHERS IN THE LIBERTY STREET SCHOOL HOUSE. 

Henry Robinson, Robert Patterson, Esq., Dr. Joseph 
Campbell, Anthony Gallagher, Hugh Barton, Mr. Littlefair, 
Mr. Hatch, John Crooks, Hamilton Washington Carter and 
Joseph Buchanan. 

Henry Robinson taught in Smith township in 1807. He 
taught his first term here about the year 1812. His teaching 
here amounted to about fourteen years. He taught in Smith, 
Hanover, Robinson and Mt. Pleasant townships. His last 
term in Smith township was in No. 8, in 1841. His last term 
was in the Rankin school, Mt. Pleasant township, about the 
year 1842. He died in Mt. Pleasant township in 1854. 



THF, FIRST TEACHEK. 10 

Robert Patterson taug-ht before the war of 1812. He 
was the first president of the Smith township school board. 
Nathaniel Hunter was the first secretary. Mr, Hunter died 
in 1S7^> in Jefferson count}', Ohio. Mr. Patterson was presi- 
dent of the convention of Nov. 4, 1834. That convention 
was a joint meeting- of the County Commissioners and one 
deleg'ate from each of the 2(> townships and the boroug-h of 
Washing-ton, which met in the court house and determined 
by a vote of 21 to 5 to accept of the provisions of the school 
law of 1834. He was the leading- spirit in the movement 
which led Smith township to accept the provisions of the 
school law. Mr. Patterson was a justice of the peace in 1818, 
and county commissioner, 182S. He did more, probably, than 
any one man to bring- about the org-anization of the First 
Presbyterian church in this place. He was one of the princi- 
pal advocates of the temperance cause in this locality. ?Ie 
died February '), 18()1. 

Anthony Gallag-her taught here about the year 1817. 
He taug-ht in Smith township afterwards. He was an excel- 
lent swordsman and drilled a class in fencing- during- the 
evening-s. 

Dr. Joseph Campbell was a Smith township teacher. In 
1808 he taug-ht a school on the farm now owned by Capt. 
John B. Hays. It is not known when he taug-ht his first 
term here. He taug-ht several j'ears in Burg-ettstown, the 
last term was in the brick school house in 1836-7. Dr. Camp- 
bell was a justice of the peace and a practicing- physician, 
and was the proprietor of a drug- store. He died February 
15, 1857, and was buried in the Presbyterian cemetery, Cross- 
creek Villag-e, Pa. 

Joseph Buchanan beg-an a term in the Liberty street 
house, but on account of its bad roof, he completed the term 
elsewhere. 

It is not known when the other teachers mentioned 
tauy-ht in the Liberty street house. 



11 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 



CHAPTER IV. 

OTHER BUILDINGS AND THEIR TEACHERS. 

Sometime between 1820 and 1825 Miss Jane Daug-herty 
taug-ht in a building- fronting- on Pittsburg- street, now own- 
ed by the estate of Dr. Wm. Donnan, deceased, long- known 
as the Brydg-es property. The house is now occupied by 
Joseph Richey. It is the same building- where John Brown, 
of Harper's Ferry fame, boug-ht wool one season. 

A building- which stood near the present residence of S. 
P. Riddle, Esq., corner of Liberty and Market streets, was 
used in 1832 by Mrs. Sally Taylor, mother-in-law of Dr. 
Stephen Smith. Mrs. Taylor g-ave instructions in needle- 
work in connection with the branches taug-ht. 

Samuel Douthett and Robert Forester each taugfht in 
what was for a long- time known as the Maxwell house, on 
Market street. It is now owned and occupied by James C. 
Shook. 

Dr. Joseph Campbell taug-ht in the house, corner of Pitts- 
burg- and Liberty streets, now owned and occupied by Mrs. 
Mary Kennedy since April 1, 1848. 

Joseph Buchanan completed a term in 1834, in the house 
now owned and occupied by Miss Nancy Shillito, on Pitts- 
burg- street. Mr. Buchanan began the term in the Liberty 
street house, but left it on account of its bad roof. Miss Pot- 
ter and Joseph McLain each taug-ht in the house where Mr. 
Buchanan completed his term. 

Miss Sibella Galbraith taug-ht two winters and one sum- 
mer in a log- building- that fronted on Washing-ton street, on 
the lot now owned by the Dr. Wm. Donnan estate. John 
Stephenson used the same room at one time for a tailor shop. 

Miss Potter taught in a room of the house now owned 
and occupied by Dr. J. T. Harper, dentist, on Pittsburg- 
street. Miss Potter became the wife of Dr. Samuel Mar- 
shall. 



OTHER BUILDINGS AND THEIR TEACHER.S. 13 

IN THE FARM HOUSE ON THE ^'WEST RADIUS" TRACT. 

In 1833 Samuel Douthett and his sister, Isabella, taug-ht 
in the house now occupied by John T. White, and owned by the 
Rev. John Hood, a former pastor of the United Presbyterian 
church, Burg-ettstown. The school was in the second story 
of the building-. Mr. Douthett paid Mrs. Elijah Henwood 
one dollar a month for the privileg-e of walking- through her 
kitchen. Hamilton Washing-ton Carter taug-ht in the same 
house at one time. 

THE BRirCE PROPERTY. 

James McLain taug-ht in the dwelling- house owned bv 
the estate of David Bruce. 

Robert Forester taught in the same house in 1834. 

In 1834 Miss Sibella Galbraith taug-ht in the building- 
where David Bruce moved his store in 1795 — the first in Bur- 
gettstown. 

Mrs. Sallie Taylor and Joseph Buchanan each taught in 
the same building-. The Bruce property is now owned by 
William Melvin. He removed the first building mentioned 
in 1883, and the old store room in 1884. 

Miss Sibella (xalbraith became the wife of Rev. Samuel 
Middleton. 

James McLain became a Presb^'terian minister. 

Robert Forester became a minister t)f the Associate 
church. 

Samuel Douthett became a minister of the Associate 
church and died shortly after entering- the ministry. 

Joseph Buchanan became a minister of the Union church. 
He died in Southern Ohio. 

The names of but few teachers are remembered to be 
handed down to posterity. These schools mentioned were all 
pay schools. Many of them were of a hig-h order. 

Hon. Georg-e S. Hart, who was elected Judg-e of the 
Washington County, Pennsylvania, Courts in 1876, spent his 
earlv davs in Bursfettstown. 



14 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

In a letter dated April 25, 1883, the Judg-e says: 
"When quite a small boy I learned my alphabet, and 'a — b — 
abs' at the feet of g-ood Mrs. Sallie Taylor. And afterward, 
I attended Henry Robinson's school long; enoug-h to learn to 
read and write, and to master the multiplication table — at 
least as far as twelve times twelve. ( )f both of these teachers. 
I have very pleasant recollections. Mrs. Taylor, as I remem- 
ber her, was an elderly lady, of a very sweet, kindly and g"en- 
tle temper. Mr. Robinson was a live teacher, full of enthu- 
siasm for his work, and very fond of children, whose confi- 
dence and affection he always enjoyed in a high degree." 



CHAPTER V. 

SECOND SCHOOL BTTIT.DINO. 

In 1834 a lot of ground was leased from Dr. Stephen 
Smith, on Washington street, on which was erected a one- 
story brick building, ccmtaining two apartments, by Edward 
Downing, of Hickory. It was built for church and school 
purposes. Scho(^l closed when the house was needed for 
preaching. 

When the Countv Commissioners were holding their tri- 
ennial assessment a])peals they were asked to contribute for 
the building ; they did so, and gave their day's wages. 

Those teaching in this house before the public school 
went into operation were : In 1834-5, Houst<m Walker, in 
the north room, and Dr. Joseph Campbell, in the south room. 
Dr. Campbell taught in the winter of 183()-7. 

Mr. Brakeman taug-ht one term in this building-. 

ACCEPTKNO THE PROVISIONS OF THE SCHOOL LAW. 

Smith township accepted the school law the year of its 
passage, althoug-h there was considerable opposition to ac- 
cepting its provisions. A part of the opposition was bv men 



SECOND SCHOOL BUILDINC,. 15 

who were in favor of education, but were opposed to the 
policy of the immediate construction of new houses. On the 
dav appointed to vote on its adoption the voters assembled in 
Burg-ettstown. The dav bein^- wet, and no hall in the town 
laro-e enoug-h to hold them, thev went to the covered bridg-e 
at the foot of Pittsburg- street, near the steam flouring- mill ; 
all favorable to the law went to one end of the bridg-e, those 
opposed went to the other. This is the only history we have 
of a meeting- of the citizens of a township in the county in 
compliance with the Act of 1834. 

SMITH TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS IN OPERATION. 

In the state superintendent's report for the year ending 
Dec. 31, 183r), Smith township is credited with eig-ht schools, 
and having received from the state appropriation $209.76 for 
lM3<.-7, and $9<).4S for former years, but nothing from the 
countv or district, and the schools not in operation. 

In the report for Dec. 31, 1837, eight schools were re- 
ported and one required. Three months taug-ht ; teachers, 
seven male and one female : salary of males, S2(» per month ; 
females, $14 per month. 

THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE BRICK SCHOOL HOUSE ASKED TO RE- 
LINOITISH THEIR CLAIM. 

On August 27, 1853, the school board of Smith township 
resolved that if the stockholders of the brick school house in 
Burg-ettstown shall release their claim to said h(mse, that 
the board accept the same and put the house in suitable 
repair. 

Again, on Dec. 21, 1853, the school board resolved to 
repair the brick school house — No, 1st — in pursuance f)f the 
plan recommended by the state superintendent, so far as the 
same can be done without prejudice to the rig-ht of those who 
claimed the same for religious purposes. Messrs. Alexander 
Kidd, Esq., William Blair and John Daugherty were appoint- 
ed to carrv out the foregoing resolution. 



16 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

Ag-ain, on Sept. !<>, 1854, the board resolved that the 
seats in school house No. 1st be removed, so as to suit the 
new system of teachintr. The two apartments were thrown 
tojjfether. 

Members of the board for 1853 : Alexander Kidd, Ksq., 
James Russell, Capt. John Campbell, S. P. Riddile, Esq., 
Norris Duncan and John Stevenson, Esq. Secretary S. P. 
Riddile, Esq., is the only member of that board living-. He 
resides in Burgettstown. 

The records of the board prior to Aug-. 27, 1853, are not to 
be found. From that time until 1868 they are not very com- 
plete. Since 1868 they have been fully kept. 

THE FIKST PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHEH. 

Alexander Swaney taug-ht a three-month term beg-inning- 
in February, 1837 — the first public school in Burg-ettstown. 

LIST OF THOSE WHO TAUGHT IN THE BRICK SCHOOL HOUSE. 

Houston Walker taught in the room in the north end the 
winter of 1834-5, and Dr. Joseph Campbell in the room in the 
south end the same winter. Dr. Campbell also taug-ht the 
winter oi 1836-7. 

Mr. Brakenian taught one term before the school law 
went into operation, the date not known. 

Dr. Joseph Campbell taught the winter of 183()-7. 

The public terms were taug-ht in the fall and winter, and 
the pay schools in the spring and summer. The other teach- 
ers who taug-ht in this building- are : 

''^ 1837 — Alexander Swaney. 

1837-8 — Joseph Rogers. 

1838 John Calbraith. 

1838-9 — James C. Log-an. 

183') James C. Logan. 

1839-40 — James Fulton. 



(*) Note. — In distinjiuishirii; the pay and public schools, the pay schools are 
desii^nated by the sinj;le year as 1S38; the public schools, beint;- tau;jht during' 
winter and sprinu ninnths, are noted thus: 1S3.S-9; or, iSIO-ti. 



SECOND SCHOOL BUILDING. 17 

1S41— James Fulton. 

1841-2— Wm. P. Richardson. 

1842— Not known. 

1842-3— John B. Strain. 

1843 — James Boyce. 

1843-4— James L. Patterson. 

1844 -Abel T. Richards. 

1844-5— Robert S. Campbell. 

1845 — Joseph Farrar. 

1845-6— Abel T. Richards. 

184<)— Abel T. Richards. 

184() 7 — Miss Nancy J. Cunning-ham. 

1847— John B. Phiilis. 

1847-8^ Patterson Smith. 

1848 — James L. Patterson, James L. Moore. 

1848-9— James A. Galbraith. 

1849— Abel T. Richards. 

1849-50— Abel T. Richards. 

1850— Miss Sarah M. Armstronj^-. 

1850-1— John Stevenson, Esq. 

1851— Edward Campbell. 

1851-2— Matthew W. Galbraith. 

1852 — Miss Lizzie Matthews. 

1852-3— Abel T. Richards. 

1853— Miss Nancy J. Cunning-ham. 

1853-4— W. W. Van Eman. 

1854— W. W. Van Eman. 

June 24, 1854, the school board allowed Miss Sarah M. 
Armstrong- $12 for one month's teaching- in Burgettstown. 

1854-5 W. W. Van Eman. 

1855 — No summer term. 

1855-f)— Gabriel Bilderback — months ; George Jardine 
— months. 

1S5(> — (rcorg-e Jardine. 

1856-7 Wm. H. Hammond. 

1857 Wm. H. Hammond. 

1857-8 — James F. McCarrell, 5 months ; James D. Camp- 
bell, 2 months. 




c 

"3 
PQ 



H 



THR THIRD SCHOOL BUILDING. 19 

1858~~William Molvin. 

1858-9 William Melvin. 

1859— Miss Mary Patterson. 

1S59-60 — James E. Stevenson. 

1860- -Joseph Hays. 

186()-()1— William Melvin. 

18hl--W. S. Fulton. 

1861-2— William Melvin. 

18r,2— William Melvin. 

1862-3— W. P. Montg-omery. 

1863— Miss Nancy McNary. 

1863-4— Samuel R. Allison. 

1864— Samuel R. Allison. 

1864-5— Milton Paxton. 

1865— Miss Sallie Marshall. 

1855-6 — The school was graded. V. B. Baker, principal, 
and his wife assistant. A room now owned and occupied by 
Miss Naiic\' Shillito, was used by the principal. 

1866— Mrs. Van B. Baker. 

1866-7 — Samuel L. Farrar. 

1857 — Miss Cornelia Leopold. 

The brick school house, a cut of which appears on page 
12, then ceased to be used for school purposes. 



CHAPTER VI. 

TIIK THIKD SCHOOL BUILDING. 

September 28, 1S()7, the school board of Smith township 
contracted with Isaac Fondersmith to build a new one- a two 
story frame — on a lot obtained from Rev. J. T. Fredericks. 
The citizens residing- in the south end of town raised two 
hundred dollars, bought the lot, and presented it to the school 
board. Mr. Fredericks valued the lot at two hundred and 
fifty dollars, but threw off iifty dollars. The lot is a part 
of the James Miller pat.mt, dated December 14, 17S9. 



20 A CKNTUKY OF KDUCATION. 

NAMES OF THOSE WHO CONTKIBItTED TO BUY THE LOT. 

Rev. James T. Fredericks, $50.00; Rev. Samuel H. Gra- 
ham, $15.00 ; Samuel P. Wilson, S15.00; Robert K. Scott, 
$20.00; Francis Hood, $10.00; John W. Daug-herty, $10.00; 
M. M. Brockman, $10.00; Joseph Parker, $10.00; James (t. 
Brydg-es, $10.00 ; Henry P. Abell, $10.00; Lilburn Shipley, 
$10.00; M. R. Allen, $10.00; Alfred McCausland, $5.00; 
William Blair, $5.00; Joseph Robinson, $5.00; Samuel W. 
Bell, $5.00; Edward Sharp, $5.00; J. J. Campbell, $5.00; 
James S. Vance, $5.00 ; A. Thornburg-, $5.00; James Reed, 
$5.00; William E. Yates, $5.00; Richard Howard, $5.00; Dr. 
J. T. Harper, $5.00; John Pry, Sr., $3.00; Elijah Marshall, 
$3.00; Daniel Reynolds, $2.50; Joseph Richey, $2.50. 

The contract for building- was $3,300. Mr. Fondersmith 
was afterwards directed to enlargfe the windows and put in 
lights 12x22; and also to put in the building- eight additional 
windows of the enlarged size. The board agreed to give Mr. 
Fondersmith the sum of $37o for the change. 

The brick school house was sold the same year t) Joseph 
Robinson, a nephew of Henry Robinson, the teacher, for$130. 
It is now occupied by Mr. Robinson as a dwelling-. 

It has frequently been asked "Why was not a lot ob- 
tained on higher g-round and back from the main street ?" 
At that time the land adjoining was not yet laid out in town 
lots. 

There was no public school during the winter of 18(.7. 

A four-months' public term opened about April 1, 18(>S, 
in the two lower roimis, with Oeorge T. McCord, principal; 
Kate W. (yhrist, assistant. 

l8()8-')^(Teorge T. McCord, Kate W. (ihrist. 

1S()*) (leorge T. McCord, Kate W. (;hrist, Carrie A. 
Brockman. 

lS(>«)-7(» — Hibbard S. Phillips, Carrie A. Brockman, Sarah 
Hays. 

1870 — Hibl)ard S. Phillips, Sarah Hays. 

1870-1 — Daniel N. McCracken, 5 months; W. C. Lyne, 1 
month; Carrie A. Brockman, Sarah A. McFarland. 

1871— W. C. Lvne, Sarah Hays, Emma M. Burgett. 



Till-; THIK'D SCHOOL HUIT.DING. 21 

Miss Burg-ett's school was independent and taug-ht in 
room 2. 

For several years the patrons, at a public meeting", by 
vote, decided that the pay schools should be graded. Thev 
also selected the teachers. Occasionally' an independent 
school was organized. 

1871-2~W. C. Lyne, Kate W. Christ, Eva Simmons. 

1872— W. C. Lyne, Sallie McCalmont. 

1872-3"-Charles W. McCord, Sallie McCalmont, Esther 
A. McCalmont. 

1873— Sallie McCalmont, Esther A. McCalmont. 

Georg-e Ralston was chosen by the citizens, at a public 
meeting, as principal of the summer term of select or pay 
school. Ill health prevented his taking- charge of the school. 

1873-4- -Thomas B. McCain, Sallie McCalmont, Emma 
Wilson. 

1874 — George M. Miller, Emma Wilson. 

1874-5- George M. Miller, Lizzie Hoffman, Eva Sim- 
mons. 

1875- -William Melvin, Eva Simmons. 

1875-6 — William Melvin. Mary Bingham, Eva Simmons, 
Mattie Fleming. 

1876— William Melvin, Mattie Fleming-. 

The school was re-g-raded and the vacant room occupied 
for school purposes. 

1876-7 — William Melvin, Eva Simmons, Anna M. Rid- 
dile, Mattie Fleming. 

1877— S. L. McCullough, Mattie Fleming-. 

R. W. Daws )n and D. F. Enoch conducted a six weeks' 
normal term. 

1877-8— L. C. Deal, Eva Simm )ns, Esther A. Porter, Rea 
T. Wilson. 

1878— D. W. Patterson, Rea T. Wilson. 

1878-'^)— D. W. Patterson, Esther A. Porter, Anna M. 
Riddile, Mattie Fleming. 

187') -D. W. Patterson, Mattie Fleming. 

Sarah K. Morris taught an independent school in room 
No. 2. D. W. and John Patters<m taught a normal term of 
six weeks. 



22 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

1879-80— D. W. Patterson, Esther A. Porter, Anna M. 
Riddile, Mattie Fleming-. 

1880 — D. W. Patterson, Mattie Fleming-. 

D. W. Patterson and D. F. Enoch taug-ht a normal term 
of six weeks. 

1880-81- -Luther M. Axtell, Mattie Fleming-, Lizzie Gal- 
braith, Alice Stevenson. 

BUKGETTSTOWN INCOKPORATED AS A BOROUGH, MARCH 23, 1881. 

1881 — W. D. Hamaker, academic and normal ; Alice 
Stevenson, independent. 

1881-2 — C. J. Vance, Ag-nes E. Keys, Lizzie McCarrell, 
Alice Stevenson. 

1882 — W. D. Hamaker, academic; Sarah E. Fredericks, 
independent. 

1882-3 — M. R. Snodg-rass, Clara B. Reed, three months ; 
John F. Vance, three months; Flora B. Daug-erty, Leila J. 
Anderson. Mi.^,s Reed resig-ned December 9, 1882. 

1883 — M. R. Snodg-rass, Flora B. Daug-hertv. 

Prof. Snodg-rass taug-ht a normal term of five weeks after 
the close of the spring- term. 

1883-4— M. R. Snodgfrass, I'A months; John S. Porter, 
three days ; Vincent J. Stillwag-en, M. Ethie Brimner, Leila 
J. Anderson, Leila C. McCabe. 

Prof. Snodgrass resig-ned to eng-ag-e in other business. 
Prof. Porter was teaching- in Smith township. The school 
board of that township refused to release him. 

1884 — Geo. M. McFarland, academic; Annie Armstrong-, 
Flora B. Daugherty. 

1884-5— J. G. Dunbar. John F. Vance, F'lora B. Daug-h- 
erty, Mattie B. Jolly. 

1885 — Bvron E. Tombaug-h, academic ; Flora B. Daug-h- 
erty, Mattie B. Jolly. 

1885-6 — Byron E. Tombaug-h, live months; A. P. Dennis, 
two months ; John F. Vance, Annie M. Vance, Mattie B. Jolly. 

Prof. Tombaug-h resig-ned on account of ill health. 

1886 — No summer term. 



THE THIKD SCHOOL BUILDING. 23 

1886-7— Byron E. Tombaug-h, Joseph H. Sutherland, sub- 
stitute, seven weeks ; William Melvin, Jean E. Montgomers', 
Mattie B. Jolly. 

The school board g-ranted Prof. Tombaug^h leave to pro- 
cure a substitute while he canvassed for the office of Count}' 
Superintendent. 

1887 — No summer term. 

1887-8— R. P. Stevenson, William Melvin, Jean E. Mont- 
g^omerv, Marg^aret A. Simcox. 

1888— James A. Smith. 

1888-9— W. C. Black, William Melvin, Lizzie McCarrell, 
Marg-aret A. Simcox. 

1889— Byron E. Tombaug-h, normal and hig-h school ; J. 
T. Frazier, independent. 

1889-90— R. P. Stevenson, D. F. Enoch, Ivizzie J. Nichols, 
Marg-aret A. Simcox. 

1890— D. F. Enoch. 

Byron E. Tombaug-h, normal and hig-h school ; J. D. 
Hornbake, assistant. 

Prof. Tombaug-h was elected County Superintendent May 
6, and the school was continued by Prof. Hornbake. 

1890-91— William Melvin, Mrs. Clara M. Weaver, Lizzie 
McCarrell, Lizzie J. Nichols. 

1891 U. F. Enoch, Lizzie J. Nichols. 

1891-2- William Melvin, Mrs. Clara M. Weaver, Lizzie 
McCarrell, Adda M. Purd}'. 

1892- -Flora B. Daugfherty, Adda M. Purdy. 

1892-3- J. C. Minor, Mrs. Clara M. Weaver, Lyda J. 
Purdy, Adda M. Purdy. 

1893-4— S. S. Baker, Adda M. Purdy, Mrs. Clara M. 
Weaver, Sara W. Harper, Annie M. Vance. 

The school was re-g-raded and live teachers employed. A 
room over H. B. McMurraj^'s drug- store was used for the pri- 
mary department. The drug- store adjoins the school prop- 
erty. Rhetoric and Civil Government were added to the 
course. 

1894-5— S. S. Baker, Adda M. Purdy, Mrs. Clara M. 
Weaver, Dora Andrews, Ina Andrews. 




The Fourth School Building. 



A CKNTITRV OK KDl'CATIOX. 25 

1895 — S. S. Baker, normal and hig-h school, 
1895-6— S. 8. Baker, J. Etta Hobbs, Mrs. Clara M. Wea- 
ver, Dora Andrews, Ada L. Dowden. 

The third building- was occupied for the last time Fridav, 
November 22, 1895. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE FOUKTH SCHOOL BUILDING. 

The question of issuing- bonds for the purpose of raisino- 
funds to build a new school house was submitted to the voters 
of the borough in Februar}-, 1893, and was defeated bv a 
small majority. 

The question was again submitted to the voters March 28, 
1895, and was carried by a of vote 115 to 35. The question of 
the legality in the form of the ballot used arose, where similar 
elections were held for the same purpose. The question had 
been carried to the Courts by other districts and the 
leg-ality in the form of the ballot used was sustained. The 
board did not wait for the decision of the courts, but upon the 
advice of its attorney, issued bonds by resolution, June 18, 
1895, conformably to Section 2, Act of Assembly, April 2(», 
1874, Providing- for the increase of indebtedness of any coun- 
ty, city, school district, or municipality or incorporated dis- 
trict. The amount of bonds issued was $6,500. March 2d, 
1895, the board appointed Doctors Botkin and Nesbit a com- 
mittee to neg-otiate with the ag-ent of the estate of Mrs. Jane 
Tucker, deceased, for the purchase of the lot east of and ad- 
joining- the school lot, at a cost not to exceed S450. May 26, 
1895, the committee reported the purchase of the said lot for 
$400. The committee further reported that it had a bid for 
the dwelling house and a part of the lot. The committee 
was instructed to sell it. 

June 3, 1895, the committee reported the sale of the 



26 A CKNTITRY OF EDUCATION. 

dwellin*^ and a part of the lot to Mr. A. M. Armor, for 
S25(), thus making- the additional g-round cost S15(). 

April 20, 1895, plans and specifications were submitted to 
the board. Those of J. E. Allison, Pittsburg, Pa., were ac- 
cepted. 

DESCRIPTION. 

"The building is located on the old school lot, to which 
a piece of ground 55x100 feet has been added, making- the 
present lot about 100x205 feet. The building- is 65 feet front 
and 65 feet deep, and is L-shaped, to allow the erection of ad- 
ditional rooms when needed. It is two stories hig-li, contain- 
ing- six rooms — three on each floor — 25x30 feet, with 12-foot 
ceilings. There is a p'-incipal's room 10x12 feet on the sec- 
ond floor, over the vestibule. The front entrance is 10x6 
feet. There are 11-foot halls on both floors, and cloak rooms 
10x12 feet to each recitation room. Finished cellar, solid 
stone foundation. Superstructure of red brick, slate roof, 
with bell tower and flag- staff on top of tower. Finished 
with vellow pine. The second floor deadened, so as to be 
noise-proof. The building will be heated with the latest hot 
air furnaces. " — Eyiterprisc. 

The contract for the building was let to Armor & Linn 
in June, for $f),940 ; heating and ventilating-, S+IS ; l)l;ick 
board, S192 ; total cost, S7,()0(). 

The hot air furnaces were put in on trial. They were 
a failure, and were taken out by the company putting- them 
in. In 1896 the board contracted with the Pittsburg- Heating- 
Supply Company to heat the building with steam. It was a 
success. The cost was SS95, making the total cost of the 
building, heating and ventilating, and slate black board. 
$8,077. 

SUMMARY. 

Excavation began at noon, June 13, 1895. Stone work 
began June 26 ; first brick laid Saturday, August 3 ; building- 
completed and ready for seating- November 23 ; furniture re- 



Tin-: I'CH'KTII SCHOOL HriT.DINCx. 27 

moved from the old building' and placed in position during" 
Teachers' County Institute ; occupied for school purposes 
Monday, December 2, 1S*)5; public dedicatory exercises in 
Auditorium Hall, Friday evening-, December (>, 1<S*)5. 

The old ])uilding- was sold to A, H. Smith, for SSo. Mr. 
Smith used a portion of the material, and erected a verv com- 
fortable two-storv house. 

DEDICATION. 

"Dedicatory exercises of the new school building-, Fri- 
day, December 6, 1895, marked an epoch in the history of 
Burg-ettstown. That much needed convenience that the 
Enterpris^c has long-ed for and worked for with manv of our 
g-ood citizens is at last realized, viz : a new school building-. 
The children and patrons of the town and vicinity turned out 
en masse and did honor to the new building-, showing- conclu- 
sively that the people believe it is what we needed. The ex- 
ercises in the afternoon were in the various rooms of the new 
building-, and were the parts assig-tied to the pupils. To say 
that they did it well, does not convey the full thoug-ht ; they 
did it nobly. The efforts of teachers and pupils were re- 
flected in the quality of the work done. Whenever one went 
into the rooms there were song-s, speeches and essays, all re- 
lating- to a praise and thank exercise for the new school home. 
The neatness, discipline and efficiency of the children in 
their work was commented on by the crowd of visitors. 

"In the evening- a prepared prog-ramme was carried out to 
the letter before a packed house, many being- turned away for 
lack of ro )m. The building- was presented in a neat speech 
by the president of the board, W. T. Reed, and received 
most appropriately on behalf of the citizens by Rev. D. W. 
Carson, I). D. Prof. R. P. Stevenson in a stirring-, i)atrit)tic 
and complimentary speech presented "Old (llorv " in behalf 
of Burg-ettstown Council No. 212 Jr. C). U. A. M., which was 
most fitting-ly received by L. C. Botkin, M. D. One of the 
most interesting- fentures of the evening- was a summarized 
history of the local schools by William Melvin, the work of 



28 THE FOURTH SCHOOL BUILDING. 

his own hands, in description of that in which he has been a 
working- factor for nearly forty years. Prof. S. D. Rose, of 
McDonald, g-ave an interesting- and instructive talk on "The 
Duty of Parents to Schools," followed by County Superin- 
tendent B. E. Tombaugh in general remarks on schools and 
school questions, which were well received. 

"The querv box, conducted by J. C. Nesbit, M. D., broug-ht 
out some livelv hints on school matters and was a pleasant 
and profitable feature of the meeting-. Invocation was made 
bv Rev. Harrv Nesbit and the benediction was pronounced by 
Rev. D. P. Smith. 

"The music by the 'Strawberry Blonde Uuartette' was well 
selected, varied in character, and rendered in the well-known 
g-ood style of the club. It was deserving of the high appreci- 
ation with which it was received by the audience." — Burgetts- 
io^NW Enterprise, December 11, 1895. 

The Strawberry Blonde (Quartette consisted of Prof. S. S. 
Baker, John M. and J. Vincent Welch, (brothers, ) and W.W. 
Galbraith. 

When the citizens of Burgettstown next assemble to dedi- 
cate a new school building, may it be as far superior to the 
house of 1895 as the house of 1895 is superior to the one just 
vacated. 

The school moved into the ncvv building- Monday, Decem- 
ber 2, 1895. 

TEACHEK.S IN THE NEW BITJLDINO. 

1895-b— S. S. Baker, J. Etta Hobbs, Mrs. Clara M. Weaver, 
Dora Andrews, Ada L. Dowden. 

1896 — Rev. D. \\ Smith, A. Wylie I'^ulton, assistant, 
academic and normal. 

1S96-7— Will C. Farabee, J. Etta Hobbs, Mrs. Clara M. 
Weaver, Dora Andrews, Ada L. Dowden. 

1897-8— W. W. Pees, Elizabeth N. Stephenson, Anna M. 
Cowen, Mrs. Clara M. Weaver, Nora B. Osborn, Ada L. Dow- 
den. 

Owing to the crowded condition of some of the rooms, 



THE KOUKTH SCHOOL BUILDINC;. 



29 



the board decided to revise and enlarg-e the course of stud}', 
tit up the vacant room and add another teacher. This was 
done October 2, 1897, at which time Miss Elizabeth N. 
Stephenson was chosen teacher of room No. 5. 

List of pupils in attendance on the first day of school in 
the new buildino- Mondav, December 2, 189S. 



KOOM NO, 



Willie Rankin, 
Ira Irving-, 
Prosper Moore, 
Harry Andrews, 
Samuel Richey, 
John Russell, 
Lee McKinney, 
Milo Shook, 



, I, ADA L. DOWDEN, TEACHER 

Harry Donnan, 
William K. Scott, 
Fredie Pyles, 
Robbie Scott, 
Nat Andrews, 
Willie Botkin, 
Earle Manson, 
Carl Finch, 



Harold Simpson, 
Harry Shook, 



Leroy Case, 
Fredie Manson, 
Willie Robb, 
Raymond Bryan, 
Clark Shipley, 
Fredie Leopold, 
Alexander Donnan, 
Leroy Kennedy, 
Archey Campbell, 
Chalmers Silverthorne. 



Hazel Scott, 
Ora Cassidy, 
Jennie Cook, 
Ethel Scott, 
Ossie Brown, 
Mary Brown, 



Allie Pyles, 
Sarah Robertson, 
MoUie Andrews, 
Mag-g-ie McCombs, 
Nancy Andrews, 
Ida Emler, 



Elsie Wrig-ht, 
Lizzie Wood row, 
A^'inie Brown, 
Lela Westlake, 
Bessie Campbell, 
Ollie Campbell, 



Blanche Brown, 



Mag-g-ie Moore. 



Eddie Andrews, 
Frank Kelso, 
Walter Kennedy, 
Georg-e Pyle, 
John P3'le, 
Charles Westlake, 
Willie McAlister. 

Bertha Cain, 
Belle Rankin, 
Mabel Irvinuf, 



KOOM XO. 2, DOKA ANDREWS, TEACHER 

John Falconer, 



Arthur Graff, . 
Hug-h Wilson, 
Cornelius Andrews, 
Harry Robb, 
Garfield Brown, 
Orrie Hunter, 

Hettie Leopold, 
Ag-nes Hindman, 
Lyda Shipley, 



Harry Montg-omery, 
Willie Nesbit, 
T. Patterson Weaver, 
Shirley Bruce, 
Paul Lyon, 
Clarence Case, 
William McMurray. 

Edna Hill, 
Maude Graff, 
Lillie Russell, 



30 



A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 



Jessie Cook, 
Belva Jackson, 
Pearl Karns, 
Mag-g-ie Wright, 



Lelah Graff, 
Estelle Patterson, 
Ethel Wilson, 
Nannie Brown, 



Clara Hill, 
Bertha Boyd, 
Flora Smith, 
Jennie Pettibon, 



Winnie Karns, 



Lizzie Shook. 



KOOM NO. 3, MRS. CLARA M. WEAVER, TEACHER. 



Minnie Silvers, 
Gertie Rankin, 
Mary Cleland, 
Mary Porter, 
Julia Smith, 
Elta Porter, 



Jennie Daug-herty, 
Edna Richey, 
Fannie Andrews, 
Grace Botkin, 
Blanche Pyles, 
Mary L. Weaver, 



Jane Nelson, 
May Brabson, 



Ella Montgomery, 
Nettie Snodgrass, 
Blanche Robb, 
Georgie Stievenart, 
Lillie Pyles, 
Louie Shook, 

Nellie McMurray, 

Belle McClure. 



Lewis Pettibon, 
Fred Ross, 
Lawrence Cole, 
George McClain, 
Frank M. Russell, 



John Gilbert, 
Frank McCombs, 
John Cook, 
Wyley Curry, 
Frank Leopold, 



Ra^'mond Simpson, 
Wylie Daugherty, 
Charles Karns, 
Frank Andrews, 
Joe McClain. 



ROOM NO. 4, J. ETTA HOBBS, TEACHER. 



John Leopold, 
Charles Snodgrass, 
Miller Hill, 
John Da vies, 
Clare Manson, 



Harry Carnahan, Joe Scott, 

Hubert McMurray, Lewis Leopold, 

Robert Pyle, Clarence Porter, 

Robert Stephenson, Floyd Linn, 

Thomas Cole, Willie Rankin, 

Vivian Uavies, John Shipley. 

Mary Irving-, Essie Scott, Edna Scott, 

Lillie Shaw, Flora Parks, Lucy Williams, 

Maggie Hill, Myrtle Patterson, Edna Miller, 

Nellie Reed, Louie Pyle, 

Mary Botkin, Elva Manson. 

ROOM NO. 5, PROF. S. S. BAKEK, PRINCIPAL. 

Dora Nelson, Marv Riddile, Belle Falc mer, 



Anna McClure, 



Bessie Ringler, 



Marv McCluskv, 



OWADUATING CLASSES. 31 

Zella Stievenart, Ethel McNary, Gertie Hill, 

Bertha Abel, Mary Silvers, Willa Reed, 

Nora Patterson, Brita Vance, Carrie Parks, 

Hattie Nichols, M. Alma Cox, Edna Harper, 

Bella Ring-ler. M. Lou Pyles, Effie Pettibon. 

Lee McMurray, Charles Russell, Edwin McFarland, 

S. M. Reed, Francis Rea Baily, 

Charles Jackson, Charles Daughert}'. 



CHAPTER VHL 



GRADUATING CLASSES. 

In the fall of 1888 the school board revised the course of 
study with a view of g-raduating- those who completed the 
course. 

CLASS OF 1889. 

Misses Mary P. Rice, Estelle W. Crane, Estelle Hartford, 
Mary Bell Galbraith, Verne Forsyth, Alice McFarland, Nan- 
nie Doak. 

They received diplomas. There were no commencement 
exercises. 

CLASS OF 1894. 

Misses Glenna Tipton, Marg-aret Hayden, Charlotte Belle 
Stephenson, Mary P. Stuart. 

This was the second graduating- class and the first to 
g-raduate with commencement exercises. The exercises were 
held in the Town Hall,* May 3, 1894. 

(*)NOTE— The Town Hall was built by First Presbyterian Church in 1845, 
and was used by them until after the completion of the present brick edifice in 
1S75. The building: stood in what is known as the Presbyterian cemetery, on 
the hill adjoining; the borough on the east. The buildinij was purchased by a 
stock company and removed to its present location on Washinv;ton street, near 
the center iif the borough. 



32 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

PKOGRAMME OF COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES, THURSDAY, MAY 

3, 1894. 

Prayer Rev. D. W. Carson, D. D., Burg-ettstown 

_,.,,, \ Miss Mary Judson Riddile, 

Piano Duet ^ ^.^^ y^^^^ p ^^^^^^ 

Essay — "Courag-e" Miss Glenna Tipton 

Essay Miss Margaret Hayden 

"We Should Have An Object in Life." 

Piano Solo Miss Frankie McClure 

"Maiden's Prayer." 

Essay Mi.^s Mary P. Stuart 

"Building- of Character." 

Essay Miss C. Belle Stephenson 

"History and Prophecy of the Class of 1894." 

Piano Solo Miss Mary Judson Riddile 

Address Rev. A. T. Taylor, Hickory, Pa 

Piano Solo Miss Mary P. Stuart 

Presentatit)n of Diplomas Dr. L. C. Botkin 

President of the Board. 

Song By the School 

"America." 
Benediction Rev. J. L. Weaver, Burgettstown 

One member of the class passed the examination, but 
took no part in the commencement exercises, and was not 
awarded a diploma. 

"The hall was crowded to its utmost capacity, even stand- 
ing room was at a premium, the aisles and every foot of 
available room being occupied. The graduates acquitted 
themselves well, and in fact the whole programme was enter- 
taining and well carried out. All of the musicians were en- 
cored. Rev. Taylor's address to the class was especially 
g-ood . " — Enterprise. 

CLASS OF 1895. 

Misses Carrie M. Parks, Jennie O. Searight, Frankie Mc- 
Clure, Belle Falconer, Hettie I. McCabe, May Nichols, Mary 



GRADUATING CLASSES. 33 

E. Silvers, second honor ; Jennie Cooper McMurra}', first 
honor. 



COMMENCEMENT TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1895 — PKOGKAMME. 

Pra3-er Rev. D. W. Carson, D. D., Burg-ettstown 

Song-- "Come ! Come !" The Choir 

Remarks by the Principal Prof. S. S. Baker 

Salutatory Miss Mary E. Silvers 

"The Brig-ht Side." 

Essay Miss Frankie McClure 

"Education ; Its Use and Abuse." 

Declamation Miss Hettie I. McCabe 

"The Guardian Angel." 

Song- — "Welcome to Summer" Choir 

Essay Miss Belle Falconer 

"The Advantag-es of a Good Education." 

Declamation Miss Carrie M. Parks 

"The Uncle." 

Essay Miss Jennie O. Searig-ht 

"The Study of Nature." 

Song — "Hurrah for the Model Republic." Choir 

Declamation — "Nell" Miss Mav Nichols 

Prophecy, History and Valedictory 

Miss Jennie Cooper McMurray 

Song — "O Come, Come Away" Choir 

Address Rev. W. T. L. Keiffer, Washing-ton, Pa 

Presentation of Diplomas 

Dr. J, C. Nesbit, Secretary of the Board 

Song- — "America" and "Farewell" Choir 

Benediction Rev. D. W. Carson, D. D 

Three members of the class passed the examination, but 
took no part in the commencement. They were not awarded 
diplomas. 



34 A CENTUKV OF EDUCATION. 

REMARKS BY THE BURGETTSTOWN ENTERPRISE. 

The commencement exercises of the Union school last 
Tuesday evening- were highly successful in every particular. 
The attendance was very larg-e. The aisles of the hall were 
crowded with people standing-, and many were not able to 
g-ain admittance at all. The performances by the class were 
exceptionally g-ood. The sing-ing- by the choir, composed of 
pupils of the school was g-ood, and the address of Rev. W. 
T. L. Keiffer was a very happy, entertaining- and instructive 
talk. The patrons of the school were pleased, and the board 
of directors and teachers have reason to feel satisfied with 
their winter's work. 

All members of the class acquitted themselves well. 

CLASS OF 1896. 

Misses Marg-aret Louise Pyles, Mary Alma Cox, Lea 
Nora Patterson, Mary Judson Riddile, Willa Iva Gertrude 
Reed, Bertha Mae A bell, Harriet Ag-nes Nichols, Bella Dar- 
ing- Ring-ler, Mary W. McCluskey, Ethel Rea McNary, second 
honor; Bessie Darling- Ring-ler, first honor. 

COMMENCEMENT FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1896 — PROGRAMME. 

Prayer Rev. D. W. Carson, D. D., Burg-ettstown 

Piano Solo Miss Mary Judson Riddile 

Salutatory Miss Ethel McNary 

"The New Woman." 

Essay Miss Marg-aret Louise Pyles 

"Contentment is Better Than Wealth." 

Declamation Miss Mary Alma Cox 

"Asleep at the Switch." 

Declamation Miss Lea Nora Patterson 

"How Kate Shelby Saved the Train." 

Essay Miss Mary Judson Riddile 

"The Clock of Time." 

Declamation Miss Willa Iva (iertrude Reed 

"Platonic." 



GRADUATING CLASSES. 35 

Prophecj^ Miss Bertha Mae Abell 

Declamation Miss Harriet Ag-nes Nichols 

"Evang-eline on the Prairie." 

Kssay Miss Bella Darling Ring-ler 

"Woman Suffrag^e." 

Select Reading- Miss Mary W. McCluskey 

"Caleb's Courtship." 
History and Valedictory. . . . Miss Bessie Darlino: Ringler 7 

Piano Solo Miss Mary Judson Riddile 

Address to the Class Prof. W. C. McClelland 

of W. & J. Colleg-e, Washington, Pa. 
Presentation of Diplomas. ..Rev. D. P. Smith, Burg-ettstown 

for W. T. Reed, President of the Board. 
Benediction Rev. Harry Nesbit, Burg-ettstown 

There were two others in the class, one not taking- the 
full course — the other passed the examination, but took no 
part in the commencement. 

The Burg-ettstown Enterprise s^y^ : "On Friday evening- 
a remarkable crowd witnessed the advent of a class of eleven 
young- ladies from the circumscribed limits of hig-h school 
life into the broader sphere of young- womanhood. The 
commencement exercises here have always been well attended, 
but the hall probably never was as much crowded as on this 
occasion. All the seats were filled and every available foot 
of space was taken up by those who were unable to procure 
seats. The class performances were excellent, and Prof. Mc- 
Clelland's address was punctuated by witticisms which were 
enjoyed by the audience." 

A hall with a comfortable seating- capacity of one thous- 
and is needed here for an occasion of this kind. 

The school term of 1896-7 closed Friday, April 30, 1897. 
There was no g-raduating- class. 

tp:km of 1897-8. 

The school term of 1897-8 closed Friday, April 29, 1898, 
There was no graduating- class. 



36 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

ALUMNAE. 

The Alumnae of Burg-ettstown Union schools held a re- 
union and banquet at the home of Misses Sadie and C. Belle 
Stephenson, on Friday evening-, April 30, 1897. The mem- 
bers of the classes of '94, '95 and '9(), to the number of nine- 
teen young- ladies, were present. The classes originally num- 
bered 23, but the death of Margaret Louise Pyles, which oc- 
curred January 30, 1897, leaves but 22. Three were absent. 
Prof. S. S. Baker, the former principal, was also present. 
Miss Bessie Ringler, of the class of '96, made an address of 
welcome. The evening was spent in vocal and instrumental 
music. The banquet was the principal feature, and was an 
elegant affair. 



CHAPTER IX. 



OTHER SCHOOLS SINCE 1837. 



Miss Mary Rogers taught a term in a two-story building- 
that stood on the south side of Pittsburg- street, now on the 
Central Hotel property of Francis Hood. Date of teaching; 
unknown. 

In the summer of 1848 and the winter of 1848-9 Miss Ag- 
nes Rankin taug-ht in what is now known as the upper Parker 
house, the property of Miss Harriet D. Parker, on the south 
side of Pittsburg street. Miss Rankin also taught worsted 
and needle work in addition to the reg-ular school work. 

Miss Lizzie Forrester taught a primary class in 1873, in 
a house then owned by the estate of William Fondersmith, 
deceased, on the south side of Market street, between Wash- 
inrton and Race streets. The house has been removed. 
The lot is owned by James Andrews. 

Miss Sarah Hays taught a summer term in 1874, in the 
old store-room in the Gormley building. The property is now 



othe;k schools since 1837. 37 

owned by Mrs. Rebecca, wife of Thomas J. Malone, of Smith 
township. 

ACADEMIC AND NORMAL SCHOOLS. 

Of the academic schools previous to 1837, but little can 
be said. The teachers of those schools as far as known were 
Samuel Douthett, Hamilton Washing-ton Carter, Robert For- 
ester, Joseph Buchanan, James McClain and Houston Walker. 

In the fall of 1858 Joseph Ha3's opened an academic 
school, and continued it until the spring- of 1861, when he 
moved to Candor, Pa. 

The school occupied the old store-room in the Gormlev 
building- in the fall and winter of 1859. 

Summer of 1859 and winter of 1859-60, in building- then 
owned b^- the late Judg-e John Farrar, on the west side of 
Washington street. It stood on the lot now owned by the 
estate of Dr. Wm. Donnan, deceased. 

In 1860 the school was conducted in the brick school 
house. It is not now remembered where the school was held 
after that. 

Samuel T. White was the successor of Mr. Hays. He 
taught the fall and winter of 1861-2 in Dr. Wm. Donnan's 
office, near head of Pittsburg street. 

Mr. White was succeeded by his brother, Alexander M. 
White, who taught in 18(>2 in the northwest room of the 
building on the corner of Pittsburg- and Washington streets. 

I'revious to 1848 the room was occupied as a storeroom. 

The next school of this g-rade was opened in the fall of 
1875, by Prof. Joseph R. Miller, assisted by Z. B. Taylor. 
Prof. Miller dying early in 1876 the school was conducted by 
Mr. Taylor until the spring- of 1876. Mr. Taylor conducted 
a high school until the spring- of 1877, occupying- the Union 
school building in the summer of 1876. 

Mr. D. F. Dickson came here in April, 1876, and occupied 
part of the T. T. Shipley hou.^e, that was afterward removed 
to give place to the Burgettstown National Bank building. 
In this house Mr. Dickson taught classical students until 
Julv of the same vear. 



38 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

In the fall of 1877 Rev. John Todd, a retired U. P. min- 
ister, opened a select school at his residence on Washington 
street, then owned by John A. Denny ; now owned and occu- 
pied by Miss Esther McNary. This school was conducted 
until the spring- of 1880 at his residence. Excepting the sum- 
mer of 1878, when the Town Hall was used by the school. 

W. D. Hamaker taught two terms of ten weeks each in 
room No. 4 in the Union school building, beginning April, 
1881, and April, 1883. 

Miss Sarah E. Fredericks had a Latin class in the school 
taught by her in 1882 in the Union school building. She 
had a class in Latin at her father's residence until some time 
in the summer of 1883. 

M. R. Snodgrass taught Latin to a class during the pub- 
lic term of 1882-3. The class recited in the morning before 
the opening of the school. 

James W. PVedericks during the summer vacation of 1883 
taught a Latin class of six. 

George M. McFarland taught an academic term in the 
spring and summer of 1884, in room 4, Union school building. 

Byron E. Tombaugh taught an academic term — spring 
and summer of 1885 — in room 4, Union school building. In 
the spring of 1889 Prof. Tombaugh opened an academic nor- 
mal and high school in the Union school building. Nearly 
forty students patronized the spring term. The fall term 
opened the first Monday of September, in a room over H. B. 
McMurray's drug store. Average attendance about twenty. 
The winter term opened January 6, 1890. Twenty-three 
students in attendance. A literary society was a feature of 
the school during the fall and winter terms. 

The spring term opened in April, 1890, in the Union 
school building with J. D. Hornbake, assistant. Mr. Tombaugh 
was elected County Superintendent May 6, 1890. Prof. Horn- 
bake had charge of the school until the close of the term. 

James Haworth, a graduate of the University of Penn- 
sylvania, taught an academic term of twelve weeks, in a 
room over H. B. McMurrav's drug store, Washington street. 



OTHKK SCHOOLS SINCE 1837. 39 

beg-inning- January 2, 1888. He beg-ati a term April 2, of the 
same year, taug-ht a few weeks and quit for lack of patronag^e. 

UNION ACADEMY. 

The first academy board was organized in August 1890, 
Rev. D. W. Carson, D. D., president ; Rev. J. L. Weaver, 
vice-president; Dr. L. C. Botkin, treasurer, and Dr. J. C. 
Nesbit, secretary. This org-anization continued until June 6, 
1893, when Dr. L. C. Botkin resigned as treasurer, and Hon. 
D. M. Pry was elected to succeed him. 

Prof. I. M. Bridgeman and his wife, of Franklin, Indi- 
ana, had charge of the school the first year, 1890-91. 

Prof. O. C. Underwood had charge the second vear, 
1891-2, assisted by Miss Lois White during the second and 
third terms. 

Prof. S. S. Baker had charge of the school the last year, 
1892-3. 

The school was conducted in the Town Hall during the 
three years of its existence. 

During- the early part of 1891 an effort was made to se- 
cure a lot and erect an academy building. A disagreement as 
to location arose, and the project failed. 

NOKMAL TERMS. 

The first school for the benefit of teachers and those pre- 
paring to teach was conducted by Prof. W. C. Lyne, in con- 
nection with a ten-weeks' summer term in 1872. There were 
nine students in the class. 

The next was a term of six weeks in the summer of 1877, 
conducted by R. W. Dawson and D. F. Enoch. There were 
about thirty students in the class. Union school building- 
used. 

In 1879 D. W. and John Patterson, brothers, taug-ht a 
term of six weeks. Ten students in the class. 

In 1880 D. W. Patterson and D. F. Enoch conducted a 
normal term of six weeks. Twelve students in the class. 

W. D. Hamaker taught a term of six weeks in 1881. 
Fourteen students in the class. 



40 A CENTUKV OF EDUCATIOX. 

M. R. Snodgrass taug-ht a live-weeks' term after the close 
of his spring- and summer term, 1883. 

Prof. S. S. Baker conducted a term of five weeks in the 
summer of 1895. 

Rev. D. P. Smith, of Burgettstown, assisted by A. W. 
Fulton, opened a school in May 1896, in room No. 5, new- 
school building-. Fifteen students enrolled. 



CHAPTER X. 

SCHOOL DIKECTOKvS OF BURGETTSTOWN SINCE THE ORGANIZA- 
TION OF THE BOROUGH, MARCH 23, 1881. 

1881-2 — R. T. C.Stephenson, president; William Melvin, 
secretary; W. P. Vance, James Carnahan, William Blair, 
and Joseph A. Rogers. James L. Patterson, treasurer. At 
the special election held to select borough and other officers 
William Blair, Joseph A. Rogers, William Brimner and 
Charles C. Campbell were ties. They failed to appear when 
the board organized, as provided bv law. Messrs Blair and 
Rogers were appointed. 

1882-3— R. T. C. Stephenson, president ; William Melvin, 
secretary ; J. L. Patterson, treasurer ; W. P. Vance, James. 
Carnahan, W. B. Porter. 

1883-4— W. P. Vance, president ; William Melvin, secre- 
tary ; J. T^. Patterson, treasurer ; W. B. Porter, John L. 
Scott, J. A. Bebout. 

1884-5— Dr. W. V. Riddile, president ; W. B. Porter, sec- 
retary ; J. L. Patterson, treasurer ; John L. Scott, J. A. Be- 
bout, James Rankin. 

1885-6— Dr. W. V. Riddile, president ; S. J. McNary, sec- 
retary ; J. A. Bebout, treasurer; John L. Scott, James Ran- 
kin, M. R. Parks. 

1886-7— Dr. W. V. Riddile, president; S. J. McNary, 
secretary ; James Rankin, M. R. Parks, James Carnahan, S. 



SCHOOL DIRECTORS OF BURGETTSTOWN. 41 

T. McFarland. J. h. Patterson, treasurer. S. J. McNarj 
removed from the State. S. T. McFarland was appointed 
secretary May 2, 1887. 

1887-8— Daniel Hoffman, president ; S. T. McFarland, 
secretary; J. L. Patterson, treasurer; M. R. Parks, James 
Carnahan. Dr. W. V. Riddile, b}' appointment, to fill out the 
unexpired term of S. J. McNary. 

1888-9— Daniel Hoffman, president ; S. T. McFarland, 
secretary ; J. L. Patterson, treasurer ; James Carnahan, A. 
G. Lee, W. M. McElhany. 

1889-90— Daniel Hoffman, president ; Georg-e M. Miller, 
secretary ; J. L. Patterson, treasurer ; A. G. Lee, W. M. Mc- 
Elhany, W. T. Reed. 

1890-91— Dr. W. V. Riddile, president; W. M. McElha- 
ney, secretary ; A. G. Lee, treasurer ; Georg-e M. Miller, W. 
T. Reed, Dr. J. C. Nesbit. 

1891-2— Dr. J. C. Nesbit, president ; M. R. Parks, secre- 
tary ; W. T. Reed, treasurer ; Georg-e M. Miller, Dr. W. V. 
Riddile, J. Ray Armor. 

1892-3— W. T. Reed, president ; Dr. J. C. Nesbit, secre- 
tary ; H. B. McMurray, treasurer ; M. R. Parks, J. Ray Ar- 
mor, Dr. W. V. Riddile. 

1893-4 Dr. L. C. Botkin, president ; M. R. Parks, secre- 
tary ; W. T. Reed, J. Ray Armor, H. B. McMurray, Dr. J. 7.. 
McBride. W. B. Linn, treasurer. 

1894-5— W. T. Reed, president ; Dr. J. C. Nesbit, secre- 
tary ; Dr. L. C. Botkin, Dr. J.Z.McBride, H. B. McMurry, S. 
W. Jackson. W. B. Linn, treasurer, 

1895-6— W. T. Reed, president ; Dr. J. C. Nesbit, secreta- 
ry ; Dr. L. C. Botkin, Dr. J. Z. McBride, S. W. Jackson, M. 
W. Scott. W. B. Linn, treasurer. Mr. Jackson resig-ned be- 
fore the close of the school year, when John P. Linn was ap- 
pointed, in February, 1896. 

1896-7— W. T. Reed, president ; Dr. J. C, Nesbit, secreta- 
ry ; J. W. Bryan, treasurer ; M. W. Scott, J. D. McCabe, J. 
C. White. 

1897-8-W. T. Reed, president ; Dr. J. C. Nesbit, secre- 



42 A CENTUT^Y OF EDUCATIOISr. 

tary ; J. W. Bryan, treasurer ; M. W. Scott, J. D. McCabe, 
J. A. Russell. 

In the years 1881, 1886, 1893, 1894 and 1895 the treasurer 
was not a member of the school board. 



CHAPTER XL 



FREE PUBLIC LIBKAKY, 



At a meeting- of the school board held December 5, 1896, 
a resolution was offered toward establishing- a free public li- 
brary in compliance with the Act of June 28, 1895. 

January 2, 1897, the board appointed the following trus- 
tees : Prof. R. P. Stevenson and Miss Margaret McGregor, 
one year ; J. T. Patterson and Miss Ada L. Dowden, two 
years ; Dr. L. C. Botkin and Mrs. Clara M. Weaver, three 
years. 

The president, secretary and treasurer of the board ex- 
officio trustees, viz : W. T. Reed, Dr. J. C. Nesbit and J. W. 
Br3^an. 

The trustees met January 21, 1897, and org-anized by 
electing- Dr. J. C. Nesbit, president ; Mrs. Clara M. Weaver, 
secretary, and J. W. Bryan, treasurer. 

Two entertainments were g-iven. The first by rooms one, 
two and three, Dec. 18, 1896 ; the second by rooms four and 
five, March 5, 1897. The net receipts from the two enter- 
tainments were $147.42. One hundred and forty-seven vol- 
umes have thus far been secured. 



BIOGRAPHY. 43 

CHAPTER XII. 

BIOGKAPHY. 

Reverend Alexander Swancy. 

Alexander Swaney was the son of John and Jane 
Swane^-, and was born in Irehmd, March 20, 1813. When he 
was about six years old his parents came to the United States. 
In the winter of 1836-7 he was a student of the Florence, Pa., 
Academy. He was invited by Robert Patterson, Esq., to 
teach the Burg-ettstown school. The term was three months, 
beg-inning- m February, 1837, and ending- about the first week 
of May. At the close of the term he entered Jefferson Col- 
leg-e, at Canonsburg^, Pa., and graduated in 1839. He was 
married three times. His first wife was Miss Sarah Mc- 
Cutcheon, of Knox cou^t3^ Ohio ; married in October, 1840. 
His second wife was Miss Jane Lindley, of the same county, 
married in October, 1848. His present wife was Miss Cath- 
arine C. Brown, only daug-hter of Rev. Richard Brown, D. D., 
of New Hagerstown, Ohio ; married November, 1873. He 
was licensed and ordained 1845, by the presbytery of Steuben- 
ville, in whose bounds he lived and labored over half a cen- 
tury. He has been honorably retired by the presbytery, and 
is residing at New Hag-erstown, Ohio, awaiting- the Master's 
call. 

Joseph Rogers, M. D. 

Joseph Rogers taught the public term of 1837-8. He 
was a native of Smith township, this county ; studied medi- 
cine with the late Dr. William Donnan, of this place. He re- 
moved to Utica, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his 
days. He was a very hig-hly respected citizen ; an elder in 
the Presbyterian church, and one time a commissioner to the 
General Assembly of that body. He died in Mav, 1896. 

Reverend John Galbraith. 

John Galbraith is a native of Ireland. He taug-ht a 
pay school in Burgettstown the summer of 1838. He be- 



44 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

came a Covenanter minister, and preached many years at 
Glade Mills, Butler county, Pa. He has retired from the 
ministry and makes his home with his children, who are 
located in different parts of the country. 

James Clemson Logan. 
James Clemson Log-an was born near Chestnut Level, 
Lancaster county. Pa. He taught at Gabby's, this county ; 
Circleville, Ohio; and in Burgettstown the public term of 
1838-9, and the summer term of 1839. He married Jane, 
daughter of Jesse Spencer. Mrs. R, J. Culley, of this place, 
is a daughter. Mr. Logan died in Caledonia, Illinois, Jan- 
uary 1, 1844. His widow married Joseph McCarrell, of 
Richmond, Ohio, August, 1855. She became a widow the 
second time. She returned to Burgettstown, and died Octo- 
ber 12, 1877. 

James Fulton, 
Son of John Fulton, was born in the state of New York, 
about the year 1800. He received a good education in that 
state. About the year 1826 he came to Washington county, 
Pa., and taught school for several years at Patterson's Mill, 
Florence, Cross Creek Village, West Middletown and Bur- 
gettstown. He taught in Burgettstown the public terms at 
1839-40 and 1840-41, and the summer terms of 1840 and 1841. 
He was considered a very successful teacher, and had no diffi- 
culty in securing the largest and best schools. The school of 
Florence having the reputation of being hard to govern, and 
having driven off two or three teachers. Mr. Fulton was 
solicited to take charge of that school, which he did ; and on 
the first day of school, having two articles of agreement 
drawn up, one requiring and binding the pupil to preserve 
good order, and the other allowing him to do as he pleased, 
subject to what might follow any act of insubordination. 
He required every pupil to sign one or the other agreement, 
whichsoever they chose. They all signed the one requiring 
good order, and Mr. Fultjn had no difficulty in preserving 
trood order. About the year 1836 or 1837, Mr. Fulton went 



BIOGRAPHY. 45 

back to New York State on a visit. On his return to Wash- 
ington county he broug"ht with him one hundred dozen hoes, 
which were the first improved hoe ever brought here. He was 
a member of Rev. Samuel Tag^gfart's Associate Reformed Pres- 
byterian church, West Middletown, Pa. He went to Rich- 
land count}', Ohio, and finally' settled near Wabash, Wabash 
county, Indiana, where he died in 1858. — (Per J. M. K. Reed, 

Esq.) 

General William P. Richardson 

Was born May 25, 1824, at Patterson's Mill, Cross Creek 
township, Washing-ton County, Pa. He taught the public 
term of 1841-2. At the close of the term he entered Wash- 
ington College, Washington, Pa., and remained there until 
1843, and went with his father to Brooke County, Va., (now 
West Virg-inia, ) and taught school until the spring of 1846, 
when he enlisted at Steubenville, Ohio, as a private in the 
Third Ohio Vol. Infantry, and served through the Mexican 
war. He married a daughter of Dr. Kdward Smith, of 
Brooke County., Va, and moved to Ohio in 1850. Admitted 
to the bar in 1852, at Cadiz, Ohio, and began practicing at 
Woodstield, Ohio. In 1855 he was elected prosecuting attor- 
ney of Monroe County, Ohio, in which office he continued 
until 1861. In 1861 he raised two companies of volunteers 
and was assigned to the Twenty-fifth O. V. I., of which regi- 
ment he was appointed major in May, 1861, Lieut. Col. in 
July, 1861, and on May 10, 1862, he was appointed colonel of 
the regiment. On May 2, 1863, he was shot through the 
shoulder at Chancellorsville, which disabled him for duty 
until January, 1864, when he was detailed as president of 
Court-Martial at Camp Chase, Ohio. On February 11, 1864, he 
was placed in command at Camp Chase, where he served until 
August, 1865. In the fall of 1864 he was elected attorney 
general of Ohio. In January, 1864, he was brevetted bri- 
g-adier general, and in September, 1865, joined his command 
in South Carolina, with headquarters at Columbia. He was 
appointed internal revenue collector in July, 1866, and served 
until 1869. He removed to Marietta, Ohio, where he died 
October 4, 1887, and lies buried in Oak Grove cemetery. 



46 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

Reverend [ohn B. Strain 
Taug-ht the public term of 1842-3. He was then residing- at Old 
Bulg-er, Smith township, this county. .He became a minister 
in the U. P. church ; afterward he united with the Presbyter- 
ian church. He resided for a number of years at Columbus 
Grove, Putnam County, Ohio, where he died March 25, 1892. 

James Boyce, M. D.^ 
Was the son of Ebenezer Boyce, Esq., who was elected a jus- 
tice of the peace in 1828, and removed from Burg-ettstown 
about the year 1845, to Allegheny, Pa. Dr. Boyce taught a 
summer term in 1842 or 1843. The exact year is not now re- 
membered. The doctor has been dead for several years. 

James Linn Patterson, Esq. 
James Linn Patterson, son of Robert and Mary (Linn) 
Patterson, was born in Burgettstown, Pa., November 12, 1824. 
Mr. Patterson taught the public term of 1843-4, and a short time 
in the summer of 1848. He attended Florence academy 1837 — 
1840, graduated from Washington Colleg-e, Washington, Pa., 
1842. He taught a winter term of 1844-5, near Baton Roug-e, 
La. He was engaged in the mercantile business in the south end 
of town from March 1, 1849, until April, 1852. He served 
two terms as justice of the peace and three terms as school 
director in Smith township. He was the first freight and 
ticket agent at Burgettstown station, on what is the Pan- 
handle railway. While agent for the railroad company, he 
was a member of the firm of Patterson & Company, dealers 
in general merchandise. In 1858 he was secretary of the 
Union Agricultural Association ; secretary of the Burg-etts- 
town Savings Bank from its organization in 1872, until 1879, 
when it was merged into the Burg-ettstown National Bank, 
being- appointed its first cashier, a position be still holds. He 
was the first boroug-h treasurer, and the first treasurer of the 
boroug-h school board, 1881. He served two terms in the bor- 
oug-h school board, and was treasurer of said board eight 
years. He has been an elder in the First Presbyterian church 
for many years. He is still a resident of Burgettstown. 



BIOGRAPHY. 47 

Robert S. Campbell 

Was the son of John Campbell, and was born in Smith town- 
ship, this county, in 1821, and died March 14, 1848. He 
taug-ht the public term in Burg-ettstown 1844-5. He taug-ht 
in Nos. 3 and 9 in Smith township, and No 1 in Jefferson 
township. He attended the academies of Florence and 
Frankfort Spring's. At the time of his death he was a stu- 
dent of Washington College, Washington, Pa. 

Joseph Farrar 

Was the son of Polh- Farrar. He taught the summer term of 
1845. He has been dead for several years. 

Abel Thomas Richards 

Was born near Friendsville, Susquehanna County, Pa., in 
1804, and died at Salem, Ohio, July 17, 1854. He taught the 
public terms of 1845-6, 1849-50 and 1852-3, and the summers 
terms of 1844, 1846 and 1849. He taught Nos. 2, 3 and 9, in 
Smith township. 

Miss Nancy Jane Cunningham, 

Daughter of William Cunningham, was born in Hanover 
township, this county. Her parents removed to Smith town- 
ship shortly afterward, to their farm one mile south of Bur- 
g-ettstown, which is now owned and occupied by Samuel S. 
Dunbar. She taught the public term of 1846-7, and the sum- 
mer term of 1853. She was the first lady to have charge of 
the Burgettstown public school. She was eminently success- 
ful both as a disciplinarian and an instructor. She attended 
Washington Female Seminary, and spent several years in 
teaching^. She was married May 4, 1854, to Alexander H. 
Duncan, who died in Burgettstown, October 9, 1889. Mrs. 
Duncan died December 12, of the same year. The}' were 
childless. Thev built a very g-ood residence on Washington 
street. They occupied the house only five years, when death 
overtook them. 



48 A CENTUKY OF EDUCATION. 

John B. Phillis 

Was the son of Jacob Phillis, of Smith township, this 
county. He taug-ht the summer term of 1847. He resided 
here at one time and was a member of the lirm of Vance & 
Phillis, dealers in general merchandise. The firm ceased to 
do business in 1859. Mr. Phillis was treasurer of the Union 
Ag-ricultural Association 1856, 1857 and 1858 ; corresponding- 
secretary 1856 and 1857. He died in Cairo, Illinois. 

Patterson Smith 

Was born in Burg-ettown, Pa., in 1819, and died in Cam- 
bridge, Ohio, 1865. He taught the public term of 1847-8. 

James Lewis Moore, M. D., 

Was a native of Hanover township, this county. He taught a 
a summer term in 1848. He studied medicine with the late Dr. 
Wm. Donnan, of this place. Dr. Moore began the practice of 
medicine at Service, Pa., but removed from there several 
3"ears ago. We are not able to state whether he is living or 
not. 

James A. Galbraith 

Was born in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, March 30, 
1829. He was the son of William Galbraith, Esq., who was 
for many years a resident of Smith township. Mr. Galbraith 
taught the public term of 184S-9. He was elected recorder of 
deeds for Washington count}' in 1875, and served one term. 
He resides at Canonsburg, Pa. 

Miss Sarah Maria Armstrong 

Was the daughter of West and Sarah ( Spencer) Armstrong, 
and was born in Burgettstown. She taught the summer term 
of 1850, and one month of public term in 1854. The minute 
book of the Smith township school board shows that a war- 
rant was cast for her in the month of June, 1854, for one 
month's tuition in No. 1, (Burgettstown.) At that time 
each school was allowed an equal sum of the public funds. 
It frequently happened that the funds were not all consumed, 



BIOGKAPHY. 49 

leaving- an unexpended balance, which must have been the 
case this time. By resolution of the board Aug-ust 19, 1S54, 
all balances on hand were thrown tog^ether. The resolution 
was not in full force in 1855. Miss Armstrong- was married 
in 1855 to John McCuen, who was residing- here and engag-ed 
in the mercantile business. Mr. and Mrs. McCuen moved to 
Oil City, Pa., where he was engag-ed in the same business 
until his death. Mrs. McCuen died about December 1, 1884. 

John Stevenson, Esq., 

Was the son of James and Jane (Vance) Stevenson, and was 
born in Smith township, this county, November 15, 1804, and 
died in Burgettstown, Pa., Aug-ust 7, 1862. It is not known 
how many years he spent in teaching-. His first term was the 
first school taught in a school house that stood on the farm of 
Samuel G. Scott, in Smith township. That was in 1825. He 
taug-ht the public term here in 1850-51. At one time he was 
a student of Jefferson Colleg-e, Canonsburg, Pa. He served 
two or more terms as school director in his native township. 
He was elected county auditor in 1848, and served one year ; 
elected justice of the peace in 1850, and served one term ; 
corresponding- secretary of the Union Ag-ricultural Associa- 
tion 1858, and secretary, 1859 and 1860. His widow is a resi- 
dent of the borough. Robert P., a son, is one of Washing-- 
ton county's most successful teachers. 

Edward Campbell 

Taug-ht the summer term of 1851. He was a son of Jesse 
Campbell, of Smith township, this county. Pressley Leech 
owns and resides on the Jesse Campbell farm. Mr. Campbell 
died in Kansas. 

Matthew Welch Galbraith 

Was born in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, November 
8, 1825. He was the son of William (kilbraith, Esq., who 
was a resident of Smith township for many years and at one 
time one of its justices of the peace. M. W. Gabraith taught 
the public term of 1851-2. He spent seven years or more in 



50 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

teaching-. He came of a pedag-og-ic family. His father 
taug-ht from 1817 until 1840. His father's brother, John, and 
two sisters, Sibella and Rebecca, were teachers. His two 
brothers, James A., and Samuel Middleton and a sister, Mrs. 
Margaret Shillito, mother of William G. Shillito, Esq., now 
one of the county commissioners, were teachers. His son, 
William M., now one of Pittsburg's prominent attorneys, 
was a teacher, and at one time principal of an Eng-lish and 
Classical Institute in Pittsburg-. His daug-hter. Miss M. 
Etta, is one of the corps of teachers in the Moorehead school. 
Eleventh Ward, Pittsburg, Pa. Had Mr. Galbraith contin- 
ued teaching, he would have taken a position in the front 
rank of the teachers of his day. Mr. Galbraith resides in 
Carneg^ie, Pa. 



Miss "Lizzie Matthews 

Was a resident of Blairsville when she taug-ht the summer 
term of 1852. Three efforts to secure a fuller account have 
failed. 

William Wyley VanEman 

Taug-ht the public term of 1853-4 and 1854-5, and the spring- 
term of 1854. He was born in Cecil township, this county. 
October 15, 1824. In 1830 his father, William VanEman, 
moved from Cecil township to the farm now owned by Mrs. 
Thomas J. Malone, Smith township. After leaving- the com- 
mon school he attended three sessions at the Frankfort Acad- 
emy. He taug-ht his first term in No. 2, Smith township, in 1842 
or 1843, and closed his last term at Holliday's Cove, West Va., 
about the year 1856. Mr. VanEman was the first to introduce 
the blackboard into the Burgettstown school. That was the 
term of 1854-5. He removed to Farmer City, Illinois, thence to 
Champaign, Illinois. He now resides in Webster City, Ham- 
ilton county, Iowa. Mr. VanEman was one of the successful 
teachers of his day. He thinks he would have accomplished 
more good in this world by remaining in the profession. 



BIOCKAPHY. '51 

Gabriel Bilderback, 
Son of Gabriel Bilderback, was born in Robinson township. 
Washing-ton county, Penn'a, about two miles north of Candor. 
April 24, 1837. He was educated at the common schools and 
was g-raduated from Duff's College, Pittsburg-, in May, 1855. He 
taught in Burgettstown in the fall of 1855. Afterwards taught 
at the North Star and Beech Hollow schools, near Candor. In 
1858 he accepted the professorship of book-keepingf and pen- 
manship in the Lancaster, Pa., Commercial College. In 1859 
he clerked for Vance & Phillis until they went out of business. 
He was married October 20, 1860, and went to Pittsburg in 
18()2 and assumed the position of confidential book-keeper and 
cashier for the wholesale g-rocery firm of J. S. Dilworth & Co. 
Remained with them until 1873, when he accepted a partner- 
ship with Mr. S. Ewart, then at 289 Liberty Street, under the 
firm name of S. Ewart & Co. During- this time he took some 
interest in politics. He could have had the nomination for 
Mayor of the city on the Democratic ticket. In 1882 he was 
offered the nomination for Cong-ress. In both 3'ears the Dem- 
ocrats elected their tickets. No doubt Mr. Bilderback lost an 
opportunity both to serve his adopted city at the head of her 
municipality and to serve his country in its national halls. 
For both positions he was eminently fitted and well qualified. 
But his business eng-ag-ements were such he could not dissolve 
at the time. In 1884 he dissolved his partnership with Mr. 
Ewart and accepted the partial manag-emrnt of a wholesale 
coff^ee concern which Arbuckle & Co. attempted to start in 
Brooklyn, now a portion of Greater New York, but the pro- 
ject proved a failure on account of its location, etc. He made 
a tour of Europe in 1890, visiting- the larg-e cities and points 
of interest. Since that he has taken the world easily in re- 
tirement from active employment. He still resides in Pitts- 
burg-, Pa. 

George Jardine. 
The subject of this sketch — Georg-e Jardine — was born of 
Scotch parents, near Dromore, County Down, Ireland, August 
2d, 1800, and was next to the oldest of a family six children. 



52 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

After taking- a course in the minor branches he completed a 
thoroug-h course in the languag-es, Latin, Greek and Hebrew, 
and receivings his diploma from the Queen's College, Belfast, 
had the honorary title of A. M. conferred upon him. After 
marrying Miss Sarah Stephens he set out to seek his fortune 
in the "new world," and after a long and toilsome voyage of 
eleven weeks they landed in Baltimore, Md., (the sail ship 
having- been published as lost) in August, 1829. From Balti- 
more they came overland by wag-on in an emigrant train to 
Pittsburg, Pa. His first teaching- was in East Liberty, ( now 
part of Pittsburg-, ) teaching hig-h school for a few private 
families, such as the Dalzells, Baileys, Reymers, etc.; such 
men who are the leading men of the town and State at the, 
present time. His next teaching- was in Chartiers Valley, 
where now stands the town of Carneg-ie, and I mig-ht mention 
the same in regard to his scholars there, the Rosses, Davises, 
Bells, ScuUeys, etc. His next teaching- was in the neighbor- 
hood of New Sheffield and Independence, Beaver county, Pa., 
for about four years, from 1832 to 1836. In 1837 he taught 
the Coventry school on the Pittsburg and Steubenville turn- 
pike in Hanover township, Washington county, and again in 
the same school in the then new school room which was built 
adjacent to the old one in 1843. The fall and winter term of 
-[,S44_5 was at Bavington. His next teaching was in Robinson 
township near the residence of 'Squire Pollock on a branch 
of Raccoon creek, and also in a new school house near 'Squire 
James Donaldson's, and lastly in the same township on the 
farm of William Galbraith, now owned by Robert A. Geary. 
From there he went back into Smith township and taug-ht 
several terms in a school house on the farm of John Russell, 
deceased, situated near the arch on the P., C, C. & St. L. 
railroad. Then, after teaching a few terms in Alleg-heny 
countv, he again went back into Smith township and complet- 
ed the public term of 1855-6 and also a summer term in 185r> 
in Burg-ettstown. It was while teaching- here that some of 
the leading- citizens of Burgettstown and vicinity conceived 
the idea of holding a fair at this place, and asked of him per- 
mission and use of the school room f;)r their first meetintJ- to 



BIOGRAPHY. 53 

org-anize the society, which has been so successful and useful, 
and which has been in existence ever since — now 18')7 — and to 
which they g^ave the name of "The Union Agricultural Asso- 
ciation," of Burg-ettstown. At this meeting he was called 
upon and made an address on the subject of Agriculture, urg- 
ing the importance of and showing- that in all ages it has 
been held in high esteem as a healthful, profitable and useful 
employment. After this he taught for several years in the fol- 
lowing named places : Half-Crown, North Star, and at last 
finishing- up as a public teacher at Clinton, Pa. After this 
he taught several scholars the rudiments of Latin at his home. 
He died in 1870, in the 76th year of his ag-e. He was the 
father of seven childen, viz: Wm. Guinn, Mary Ann, John, 
Andrew J., Julius Cesar, Georg-e W., and Armanella, who 
died in her childhood. The names are in the order of their 
birth : Georg-e W. is at present in the mercantile business at 
Virsoix, Pa.; a postoffice was established at this place and he 
was appointed postmaster ; Julius Cesar was by profession a 
school teacher — he died in 1860 ; Andrew J. followed the 
same profession, having- obtained a professional certificate, 
being- the highest and best the state then issued, and was 
successor to William Melvin as teacher in the brick school 
house, on James Stevenson's farm, in Smith township; after 
teaching- six years he engaged in the mercantile business at 
No th Star, Pa., in which business, tog-ether with the post- 
mastership at the same place, he has been continuously eng-ag- 
ed for thirtv-eight years. His son John chose farming- as an 
occupation, and after the war of the rebellion broke out he 
volunteered to serve his country and enlisted in Company C, 
116th Pennsylvania regiment, belonging to what was called 
The Irish Brig-ade — was wounded in the battle of the Wilder- 
ness, after having- been promoted to corporal ; he resides near 
Enlow Station, on the Montour R. R., at present. Mary 
Ann had a very liberal education, beings taug-ht principally by 
the "Master," which was the invariable )ioni dc pliiiuc of her 
father, and near the beginning of her first teaching- was that 
of assistant teacher in the Frankfort Academy, after which 
she devoted seven or eight years, (or terms) in the cause of 



54 A CENTUKY OF EDUCATION. 

education in the common schools, which were then under the 
vig-ilance of a county superintendent, which was inaugurated 
in 1854. She now resides on the farm about one mile north 
of Imperial, and two of her daug-hters are following- the ver- 
nacular occupation ; Miss Esther Wilson at North Star and 
Miss Dillie Wilson at Imperial, Pa. And now we will come 
to the first of his children lastly-, William Guinn, who fol- 
lowed the occupation of his father until his death, in 1856. 
He was a ver}- fine scholar — splendid arithmetician, and one 
of the best penmen in the state. He also studied surveying and 
trigonometry, and was widely known in this end of the three 
counties, Washington, Beaver and Allegheny-, and now at the 
close of this brief record of Master Jardine-- It may be said 
as the queen of Sheba said to King Solomon : It was a true 
report I heard of thee in mine own country, and behold the 
half was not told me. "Master" Jardine certainly deserves a 
page in history for the many faithful years spent in the ceiuse 
of education. 

William H. Hammond 
Taught the public term of lS5()-7 and the summer term of 
1857. He was born near Hickory, Washington County, Pa., 
October 22, 1829. He began teaching in April, 1850, and 
closed the last term he taught in Washington county, in the 
spring of 1860. Resumed teaching in Hancock County, W. 
Va., September, 1866. and closed his last school in March, 
1876. He was a member of the board of examiners of Han- 
cock County, W. Va., three years. One son, James M., is 
principal of one of the ward schools. Wheeling, W. Va. His 
daughter, Kate M., taught four years or m :)re in Smith town- 
ship. She was ranked as one of the best primary teachers in 
this county at that time. Mr. Hammond resides in Steuben- 
ville, Ohio. 

James F. McCarrell, M. D^ 
Taught five months of the public term, 1857-8. Doctor Mc- 
Carrell is the son of Samuel McCarrell, and was born in Han- 
over township, Washington County, Pa., November 26, 1836, 
He began to teach in 1857 and quit in the spring of 1863. 



BIOGKAPHV. 55 

He beg-an the practice of medicine in Hickory, Pa., in April, 

1864. Removed to Buffalo, this county, September, 18r)4. 
December, 1865, he removed to Eldersville, Pa., where he re- 
mained until about 1891, when he removed to Brushton, now 
the 37th Ward, Pittsburg-, Pa. He served one term as school 
director of Jefferson township while residing- at Eldersville. 
He resides in Brushton, 37th Ward, Pittsburg-, Pa. 

William Melvin, 

Son of John and Mary ( Moore ) Melvin, was born in Bur- 
g^ettstown, Pa., January 8, 1837. His first teaching- was as- 
sisting- W. W. VanEman in Burg-ettstown three months of 
the term 1854-5. He had charge of two classes. He took 
charg-e of his first school. No. 7, in Smith township, this coun- 
ty, September 19, 1855. He quit teaching- in the spring- of 
1863 to accept a position as clerk in a dry goods store in Chat- 
ham, Sangamon County, Illinois. He resumed teaching- in 

1865, and continued until May 6, 1897. He has taug-ht forty 
years, one year in Schuyler County, Illinois ; three years in 
Jefferson County, Ohio ; four years in Brooke County, W. Va. ; 
one year in Hanover township, this county, and thirty-one 
years in Smith township and Burg-ettstown. He taug-ht 
twenty-six and one-half terms for the Smith township school 
board, five of which were in Burgettstown before its incor- 
poration. He taug-ht five years for the school board of the 
borough of Burgettstown. He was employed by the Smith 
township board in 1862 to teach school No. 4., and taug-ht six 
davs, when the house was burned. This was during- the days 
of the Civil war, after he had served for a short time as 
Deputy U. S. Marshall. He removed from the state and re- 
turned in 1871. He taug-ht in Burg-ettstown the public terms 
of 1858-9, 1860-61 and 1861-2. The summer terms of 1858, 
1861 and 1862. Principal of the Union school 1875-6 and 
1876-7, and the summer terms 1875 and 1876. Assistant prin- 
cipal the public terms of 1886-7, 1887-8 and 1888-9. Princi- 
pal 1890-91 and 1891-2. He was a member of the first school 
board in the boroug-h of Burg-ettstown, being; elected for three 
years, and served as secretary of the board during that time. 



56 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

that time. He was elected county auditor in 1884, and re-elect- 
ed in 1887. He was elected secretary of the Union Ag-ricul- 
tural Association of Burg-ettstown in 1862, re-elected in 1881, 
which position he still retains. He was ag-ain elected school 
director February 15, 1898. He resides in Burg-ettstown. 

Miss Mary Patterson 

Taug-ht the summer term of 1859. She is a daughter of the 
late Hon, Finley Patterson, a native of this county. He 
served in both branches of the General Assembly of Pennsyl- 
vania. He was a resident of Armstrong County, this state, 
when serving as State Senator. He was a resident of Bur- 
gettstown at the time of his death. Miss Patterson married 
James S. Vance, and resides with him in Pittsburg, Pa. 

James Edgar Stevenson 

Taught the public term of 1859-60. He was born in Smith 
township, this county, September, 1832. He taught eleven 
years in all. He was principal of the Strasburg- Union school, 
Lancaster County, Pa.; taught one year each in Maryland 
and Delaware; principal of the Sewickley, Pa., Union school 
one year ; principal of the Second Ward scho3l, Alleg-heny, 
three vears, and taug-ht one year in the Curry Normal 
Institute, of Pittsburg, Pa. He resides in Sewickley, Pa. 
He is ag-ent for the American Surety Company, 341 Fourth 
avenue, Pittsburg-, Pa. 

Hon. Joseph Hays 

Son of Alexander and Ann (Stevenson) Hays, was born in 
Smith township. Washing-ton County, Pa., January 9, 1832. 
He graduated from Washing-ton Colleg-e, Washing-ton, Pa., in 
1857. He spent about live years teaching common schools, 
and four years teaching- academical schools, and was for 
two years principal of what is now the Thirty-sixth Ward 
schools, Pittsburg, Pa. In 1860 there was no summer term. 
Mr. Hays occupied the brick school house for his academical 
school. He was a member of the General Assembly of Penn- 
sylvania 1875 and 1876. He is an attorne3'-at-law, and re- 
sides in the 36th Ward, Pittsburg, Pa. 



BIOGRAPHY. 57 

William Scott Fulton 

Taug-ht the summer term 1861, He is the son of John J. and 
Marg-aret (Cannon) Fulton, and was born in Smith township, 
this county, in 1842. He taug-ht four jears in all. He re- 
sides in Burg-ettstown, and is the ag-ent for the P. C. C. & St. 
Louis ( Panhandle ) Railway Company. 

William Parker Montgomery 

Taug-ht the public term 1862-3. He is the son of Moses I. 
Montg-omery, and was born in Smith township, this county, 
July 9, 1841. He commenced teaching- in Smith township 
in 1859. The earl^- part of his teaching- was in Cross Creek and 
Hanover townships, this county. He was for two years prin- 
cipal of the Brownstown school. Lower St. Clair township, 
Alleg-heny County, Pa., now the Twenty-fourth Ward, Pitts- 
burg-, and fifteen years principal of South Pittsburg- school, 
now Knox school, Thirtieth Ward, Pittsburg-. About the 
year 1883 he boug-ht a farm in Montg-omery County, Mary- 
land, and moved there. He returned to Pittsburg- in 1885. 
He has been teaching- in public and private schools about one- 
half the time. He resides in Pittsburg-. 

Miss Nancy McNary 
Taug-ht the summer term of 1863. She was the daug-hter of 
Joseph McNary, and was born in Smith township, this coun- 
ty. She spent several years in teaching-. She married Eli 
Marquis and resided with him in Cross Creek township, this 
county, until her death in 1881. 

Samuel R. Allison 
Taug-ht the public term 1863-4, and the summer term of 
1864. Mr. Allison was born in Hancock County, West Vir- 
g-inia, April 16, 1841. He commenced teaching- in Hanover 
township, Beaver County, Pa., in the fall of 1860. He con- 
tinued to teach, but not continuously, until the spring- of 
1870. He taug-ht in Cross Creek Villag^e and Hickory. He 
attended the Millsboro normal school one term. He died in 
Alleg-heny, Pa., April, 1887. 



58 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

Milton Paxtoa 

Taug-ht the public term of 1864-5. He came here in the sum- 
mer of 1864 with a portable photog-raph g-allery from his 
home in Columbiana County, Ohio, where he died in 1866. 

Miss Sallie Marshall 

Taug-ht the summer term of 1865. Miss Marshall is a native 
of Baltimore, Maryland, and is the daug-hter of Stewart 
Marshall. She married John Barnes and resides with him in 
Fairfield, Iowa. 

Van B. Baker 

Taug-ht the public term of 1865-6. He was born November 
4, 1841, in Independence, Washington County, Pa. He com- 
menced teaching- in 1858. The Burg-ettstown school was 
g-raded for the term 1865-6. Prof. Baker's department occu- 
pied a room in the house now owned and occupied by Miss 
Nancy Shillito. His wife had charg-e of the primary depart- 
ment and occupied the brick school house. Prof. Baker was 
afterward principal of the schools of East Liverpool, C, Bea- 
ver Falls, Pa., and Sidney, O. In 1883 he was one of the ed- 
itors and proprietors of the Iroiitonian, published at Ironton, 
Ohio. He died November 28, 1893. 

Mrs. Van Baker 

Was a daug-hter of Andrew Martin, a carpenter, residing- in 
Cross Creek township, this count3'. She was assistant teacher 
during- the public term 1865-6, and had charg-e of the summer 
term of 1866. Her death occurred in 1883. 

Samuel L. Farrar 

Taug-ht the public term of 1866-7. He was the son of Samuel 
Farrar, and was born in 1833, on Cherry Run, in Mt. Pleas- 
ant township, this county. He taug-ht his first term the win- 
ter of 1855-6, and taug-ht irreg-ularly until the fall of 1861, 
when he left the desk and the children for the tent as a mem- 
ber of the Sixty-fifth reg-iment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and 



BIOGHAPHY. 59 

was discharg-ed July 8, 1862. He taug-ht several years after 
leaving- the army, but not continuously'. He died January 5, 
1891, in Washing-ton, D. C. 

Miss Cornelia A. Leopold, 

Daug-hter of Lewis Leopold, was born in Burg-ettstown, Pa. 
She taug-ht the summer term of 1867, which was the last term 
ever taug-ht in the brick school house. Miss Leopold taug-ht 
four years in all. Her first public term was in Jefferson town- 
ship, this county. She married David Pettibon, of the same 
township March 7, 1871. She has resided in Burgettstown 
with her husband since the spring- of 1882. 

Dr. George Thornton McCord 

Was the first principal of the Burg-ettstown Union schools. He 
was the son of John A. McCord, Esq., and was born in Cecil 
township. Washing-ton County, Pa., September 1, 1845. Dr. 
McCord taug-ht a four-months' public term here in 1868, be- 
g^inning- April 1 ; the public term of 1868-9, and the summer 
term of 1869. He beg^an to teach in 1864, after his return 
from the arm}-, and spent thirteen 3'ears in all in teaching-. 
He was educated in the public schools, and at California 
State Normal School, California, Pa. The honorary deg-ree 
of Master of Arts was conferred upon him in 1876, by Waynes- 
burg- Colleg-e. He was principal of the following- schools : 
Sharpsburg-, West Liberty, Etna, Second Ward Alleg-henv, and 
principal and proprietor of Curry Normal Institute, Pittsburg-, 
Pa. While principal of Curry Normal Institute he traveled 
over Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Virg-inia, lecturing- at 
County Institutes. In 1877 he left the last named institution 
and attended Jefferson Medical Colleg-e, Philadelphia, Pa., 
from which he was g-raduated with the hig-hest honors of the 
class in 1879. He located in Pittsburg-, Pa., where he enjoy- 
ed a lucrative practice. He was freqently called as an expert 
before the Courts. He was one of the most successful educa- 
tors in Western Pennsylvania. He was for many years a 
member of the Franklin and the Moorehead schoc>l boards. 



60 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

He was a member of Post 230, G. A. R. He died June 7, 
1897, at his home, 44 De Soto Street, Oakland, Pittsburg-. In 
1872 he married Miss Ella Hunter, of Dinsmore, Washing-ton 
County, Pa., who survives him. He is also survived by his 
son, Thomas C. McCord, a student in the Jefferson Medical 
College, Philadelphia, and Miss Bessie, a teacher in Moore- 
head school, Eleventh Ward, Pittsburg-. 



Miss Kate "W- Christ 

Is a native of Smith township, this county, and is a daug-hter 
of the late Samuel J. Ghrist, of Burg-ettstown. Miss 
Ghrist was an assistant during- the public terms of 1868, 
1868-9, and 1871-2, and an assistant during the summer term 
of 1869. It was customary for a number of years after the 
occupancy of the Union school building-, for the summer pay 
schools to be conducted on the g-raded plan. The citizens, at 
a public meeting, selected the principal and his assistant. 
The principal to g-rade the school. Miss Ghrist began to 
teach in 1865, and with the exception of two years, taug-ht 
until the spring of 1874. She began at Braddock, Pa., and 
taught two years. The fall of 1867 at Russells, Smith town- 
ship. Two months at Cinder Hill, Smith township, in 1868. 
In 1872 at Mt. Pleasant township, this county ; 1873 at Inde- 
pendence township, this county. Miss Ghrist was married 
November 11, 1875, to Joseph R. McNarv, and resides with 
him on his farm in Smith township, this county. 

Miss Caroline A. Brockman 

Is a native of Burgettstown, Pa. Her father, M. M. Brock- 
man, is now a resident of Smith township, this county. Miss 
Brockman taught eleven years. She taught as assistant the 
summer term of 1869, and the public terms of 1869-70 and 
1870-71, and seven years in the East Liverpool, Ohio, Union 
school. She was married July 21, 1881, to Robert E. Hill, of 
East Liverpool, and resides with him in that city. 



BIOGRAPHY. 61 

Dr. Hibbard S. PhUUps 
Taug-ht the public term of 1869-70 and the summer term 1870. 
Doctor Phillips was born at the "Rural," in Cecil township, 
this county, April 9, 1845. He attended the spring- term of 
the Millsboro school in 1864 and beg-an teaching- in Cecil 
township the term of 1864-5. Attended the State Normal 
school at California, Pa., in 1865, and taug-ht in Carroll town- 
ship, this county, the term of 1865-6 ; in Cecil township the 
term of 1866-7 ; in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, 1867-8. 
In the fall of 1868 he entered Washing-ton and Jeflferson Col- 
lege, Washing-ton, Pa., and remained there until June, 1869, 
when he came to Burg^ettstown. Principal of the Browns- 
ville, Pa., school 1870-71; Uniontown, Pa., 1871-2 ; Browns- 
ville, Pa., 1872-3. In the fall of 1873 he located in Pierce 
City, Mo., and published the Sonth-Wcst Immigrant and sold 
out in three months, January 1, 1874, to accept the position 
of principal of Pierce City schools, teaching- until June 1, 
1874. Principal of the Connellsville, Pa., schools 1874-5 ; 
Superintendent of Johnstown, Pa., schools 1875-6. He was 
first assistant to Dr. Pershing-, president of the Pittsburg- 
Female Colleg-e — beings professor of ancient lang-uages and 
natural sciences 1876-7 and 1877-8. He received the honorary- 
degree of A. M. from Washing-ton and Jeflferson Colleg-e in 
1877. Principal of the Fourth Ward schools, Pittsburg-, Pa., 
1878-9 and 1879-80, resigning- in April, 1880, on account of ill 
health. Attended Hahnemann ( Homoepathic) Medical Col- 
lege, Philadelphia, Pa., 1880-81. In the spring- of 1881 he 
went into the newspaper business at Brownsville, Pa., and 
remained in it until January, 1882, when he accepted his for- 
mer position in the Pittsburg- Female Colleg-e, and taug-ht 
until June 21, 1882 — declining- a re-election on account of his 
health. In 1883 he was one of the editors and proprietors of 
the Rural Notes, published in Canonsburg-, Pa. He returned 
to Philadelphia in the fall of 1883, and g-raduated April 1, 
1884. Practiced in Canonsburg-, Pa., five years, but took a 
post-graduate course in the winter of 1885-6. Removed to 
Pittsburg- in February, 1889, and practiced there until May, 
1893. His health g-iving- way, he went to Toledo, Ohio, and 



62 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

did office work for another man. Returned to Pittsburg- Oc- 
tober 3, 1895, and re-opened office. He resides in Pitts- 
burg-, Pa. 

Miss Sarah Hays 

Was an assistant teacher the public term of 1869-70, and the 
summer terms of 1870 and 1871. She had charg-e of an inde- 
pendent school the summer of 1874, in the old store room in 
the Gormly building-. She is the 3'oungest daug-hter of Levi 
and Jane ( Mason ) Hays, and was born and raised in Cross 
Creek township, this county. Attended the common schools 
of that township and afterward the Steubenville, Ohio, 
Female Seminary. She commenced teaching- at Beech Knob, 
in her native township, 1867-8, and taught two consecutive 
terms. She has taug-ht at Independence, Pa. Some years 
ag-o she removed to California, and now resides in Pasadena, 
that state. 

Daniel N. McCracken, Esq., 

Taug-ht five months of the public term of 1870-71. He was 
born in Buffalo township, this county, December 24, 1847. 
He was admitted to the bar of the Washington County, Pa., 
Courts, April 10, 1871. He resided at Washington, Pa., from 
December, 1872, until his death, July 8, 1888. 

Miss Sarah Ann McFarland 

Is a native of Smith township, this county, and is a sister of 
the missionary to Siam, the late Rev. Samuel G. McFarland, 
D. D., who died in Canonsburg, Pa., April 25, 1897. Miss 
McFarland was an assistant the public term of 1870-71. Sep- 
tember 6, 1883, she married D. P. Rogers, at North wood, 
Ohio, where she resides with her husband. 

Wycliffe C. Lyne 

Taught one month t)f the public term of 1870-71, and the 
public term of 1871-2; also the summer terms of 1871 and 
1872. He was born September 22, 1850, in Henrico County, 
Virginia. His father, Dr. Robert B. Lyne, removed to Rich- 



BIOGRAPHY. 63 

mond when he was a child. At nine years of ag"e he entered 
Pettig-rew's Classical school, and completed the academical 
course in the Jefferson Male Academy, both of Richmond. 
He taug-ht as an assistant teacher in the academ}- in the 
Latin classes. He entered Bethany Colleg-e, W. Va., at the 
ag-e of sixteen and graduated with distinction at nineteen. 
While teaching the public term here his salary was supple- 
mented by thirty dollars extra per month, raised by subscrip- 
tion b\' the citizens. The same committee of citizens offered 
to give him tift\' dollars extra per month if he would remain. 
He taught a normal term in Claysville, Pa., in the summer of 
1872. He was principal of the Washington, Pa., Union 
school from September, 1872, until June, 1881, when he re- 
sig"ned, in order to enter journalism, purchasing- a half inter- 
est in the Rcviczv a)id Examiner, Washing-ton, Pa. At the 
end of one year he sold out and accepted the principalship of 
the Park school, Pittsburg-, which position he held until June 
30, 1884. In addition to graded schools he has been in normal 
school work. While principal of the Park school, his services 
were eng-ag-ed by Curry University, to take charg-e for three 
years of the Saturda}- normal department in literature, his- 
tory- and methods of instruction. The Washington Reporter 
published in Washing-ton, Pa., in its issue of April 18, 1883, 
says: "Prof. W. C. Lyne, who was one of the best principals 
the public schools of Washington ever had, is making- his 
mark in Pittsburg. Here he did some of the best work ever 
done in our schools ; his pupils afterwards carrying off the hon- 
ors at the seminary and ranking high at the colleg-e. He was 
offered the professorship of Latin and Greek at Bethany Col- 
leg-e, which he declined, preferring- the hard work to be done 
in the public schools. His energ-y and industry combined 
with a high order of intellect, rendered him invincible in his 
chosen held, and his numerous friends here will be g-lad to 
hear of his great success in his new field of labor as pointed 
in the following from the Pittsburg Pos^t : 'Only six of the 
fourteen applicants for admission to the hig-h school (Com- 
mercial Department) were successful in passing the annual 
spring- examination. P^ive of the six were pupils of the Park 



64 A CRNTUKY OF EDUCATION. 

school, Sixteenth Ward. The principal of the school, Prof. 
W. C. Lyne, has never failed to pass the entire class offered 
bv him for the academic, commercial and normal departments 
for the past four years, a rather notable record for thoroug-h 
teaching^.'" In 1884 he accepted the manag-ement for Western 
Pennsylvania of the National Life Insurance Company, of 
Vermont. In the field he built up so larg-e and lucrative a 
business that his territory was enlarged to include Iowa and 
West Virg-inia, which manag-ement he still holds. He is a 
trustee of Pittsburg- Academy and of Bethany Colleg-e. Prof. 
Lvne was married in 1878 to Mary Vowell, daug-hter of the 
only sister of the Brown brothers, founders of the noted 
American and European banking- houses. Prof. Lyne taug-ht 
his first school in 1870-71, at the Miller school house, in Han- 
over township, this county. Prof. Lyne's father. Dr. Robert 
B. Lvne, was a brother to the mother of William Lyne Wil- 
son, author of the Wilson tariff bill, and Postmaster-General 
in the cabinet of President Cleveland. Professor Lyne is 
still a resident of Pittsburg-, Pa. 

Miss Emma M. Burgett, 

Daug-hter of the late Boston G. Burg-ett, of Smith township, 
this county, taug-ht an independent term the summer of 1871, 
in room No. 2, Union school building-. She married Frank 
McCune, February 15, 1876. Mr. McCune is yard master for 
the P. C. C. & St. L. Railway Company, at Sheridan, AUe- 
g-heny County, Pa. 

Miss Eva Simmons 

Is a native of Cross Creek Villag-e, Washing-ton County, Pa. 
She was a very successful teacher of several years experience. 
She was an assistant the public terms of 1871-2, 1874-5, 1875-6, 
1876-7 and 1877-8, and the summer term of 1875. She resides 
in Cross Creek Villag-e, Pa. 

Miss Sallie McCalmont 

Taug-ht as an assistant the public terms of 1872-3 and 1873-4, 
and the summer terms of 1872 and 1873. She had sole charg-e 



BIOGRAPHY. 65 

of the summer term of 1873, and was assisted by her sister, 
Esther A. McCalmont. She is a daug-hter of James McCal- 
mont, Esq., and is a native of Robinson township, this 
county. She taug-ht fifteen years or more. She married W. 
F. McClure, Aug-ust 17, 1882. He is a minister in the M. E. 
church. The}' reside in Bishop, Inyo County, California. 

Charles W. McCord 
Was principal of the Union school 1872-3. He was a son of 
John A. McCord, Esq., and was born October 21, 1850, near 
Venice, Cecil township. Washing-ton County, Pa. He at- 
tended Linnean Academy, at Canonsburg-, Pa. Beg-an teach- 
ing: in the fall of 1868 — teaching- four years- three in Alle- 
g-heny County, Pa., and one in Washing-ton County, Pa. He 
was admitted to the Pittsburg- bar in 1875, and removed to 
Denver, Colorado, in 1879. He was a brother of Dr. Georg-e 
T. McCord, the first principal of the Burg-ettstown Union 
school. Charles W. McCord died at the Tremont House, Gal- 
veston, Texas, July 14, 1891, en route to Pennsylvania. At 
the time of his death he was a member of the firm of Rog-ers 
& McCord, attorneys-at-law, Denver, Colorado. 

Miss Esther Agnes McCalmont 
Assisted during- the public term of 1872-3, and assisted 
her sister. Miss Sallie McCalmont, the summer term of 1873. 
That was her last term. She is a native of Robinson town- 
ship, this county, and the daughter of James McCalmont, 
Esq. She was married June 15, 1888, to Rev. Joseph McNeb, 
of the U. P. church. They reside at Blanchard, Iowa. 

Miss Lizzie Forrester 
Taut^ht a primary class in the summer of 1873. She is the 
daughter of Samuel C. Forrester, a former citizen of Bur- 
g-ettstown. She married Albert R. McMillan, in 1883, and 
resides with him at West Newton, Pa. 

James D. Campbell 
Taug-ht two months, completing- the term of 1857-8, succeed- 
ing- Dr. James F. McCarrell ( pag-e 54). Mr. Campbell was 



66 A CENTUKV OF EDUCATION. 

born in Hanover township, this county, September 5, 1S3.^. 
He completed his education at the Florence, Pa. , Academy. Be- 
o-an teaching at the Hamilton school in his native township 
and taught eleven years in all. He enlisted in Company C One 
Hundred and Fortieth reg-iment Pennsylvania Volunteer In- 
fantry in Aug-ust, 1S(>2, and was slain at Gettysburg-, Pa., on 
Julv 2d, 1863. 



Thomas B. McCain 

Was principal of the Union school the public term of 1873-4. 
He was born in McKeesport, Alleg-heny county. Pa., Septem- 
ber 10, 1850. He attended the State Normal School at Cali- 
fornia, Pa., a number of years. Commenced teaching- in 1867 
and was eng-ag^ed in that profession continuously for nearly 
twenty vears. He has taught at Belle vernon, Burgettstown, 
Clavsville, West Alexander, the First Ward, Wheeling, W. 
Va., and Canton, Ohio. While in Wheeling he served a por- 
tion of the time as Superintendent of the City Schools and 
was the founder of the IVesf J7ro-////([ School Joiinial. He did 
much work as an institute instructor throughout West 
Virginia by appointment of the State Superintendent. Dur- 
ing the past ten years he has been engaged in newspaper 
work, having- been for most of that time on the staff of the 
P/ttsbin-o' Press. Amcmg his other duties he has charge of 
the educational department of the /*frss and has made it a 
valuable and popular feature. He is married and has one son. 
He resides at 126 Henderson street, Allegheny, Pa. 



Miss Emma Wilson 

Was an assistant the term of 1873-4 and the summer term of 
1874. She is a native of Eldersville, Washington County, 
Pa. She taught the Gardner school, Jefferson township, this 
county, and was an assistant in the schools of Monongahela, 
Pa. She prepared herself for teaching elocution in the city 
of Boston. She resides in Washington, D. C, where she 
teaches elocution and gives readings for private families. 



BIOGRAPHY. f)7 

George M. Miller 

Was principal of the summer term of 1874 and of the public 
term of 1874-5. He was born June 11, 1847, in Doneg-al town- 
ship, Washing-ton County, Pa. He beg-an teaching- in 1870 
and quit the spring- of 1876. Attended part of two terms at 
the State Normal School at Millersburg, Pa. He resides in 
Burgettstowm, where, for many years he has been in the dru"- 
business, disposing- of his interest in the drug- store to his 
partner, W. E. McCurdy, January 1, 1898, to engag-e with R. 
P. Stevenson in real estate and insurance. Mr. Miller was 
appointed postmaster of Cardville postoftice in 1880. When 
the name of the office was chang-ed to Burg-ettstown he was 
commissioned postmaster Aug-ust 21, 1883, and served until 
1885. He served one term as school director from June. 1889, 
until June, 1892, serving- as secretary one year. 

Miss Lizzie Hoffman 

Was an assistant the public term of 1874-5. She is a native 
of Allegheny County, Pa. Her father, Daniel Hoffman, was 
a resident of Burg-ettstown at one time. He now resides in 
Washing-ton, Pa. Miss Hoffman taug-ht some live years in 
all. She married Dr. David Smith and resided for some time 
atCarneg-ie, Pa., but now resides with him in Indiana Co., Pa. 

Miss Mary A. Bingham. 

Miss Bing-ham was an assistant teacher during- the public 
term of 1875-6. She is a native of Washing-ton Co., Maryland. 
She was graduated from the Steubenville, Ohio, Female Sem- 
inary, which was then in charg-e of Rev. C. C. Beattv, D. D. 
She taught in the schools of Clear Spring-, Smithsburg- and 
Frankstown, Maryland, and in the Seminary at Kishacoquil- 
las, Mifflin County, Pa. She resides in Burg-ettstown, Pa., 
with her sister, Mrs. Margaret McFarland, relict of Samuel 
McFarland. 

Miss Mattie Fleming 

Is a native of Cross Creek Villag-e, Washington County, Pa. 
Her father, Isaac Fleming-, is a resident of Burg-ettstown. 



68 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

Miss Fleming- was an assistant the public terms of 1875-6, 
1876-7, 1878-9, 1879-80, and 1880-81, and the summer terms of 
1876, 1877, 1879 and 1880. She taught two years or more 
elsewhere. July 4, 1881, she married Prof. D. F. Enoch, now 
principal of the public schools of Hyndman, Pa., and resides 
with her husband at that place. 

Miss Anna M. Riddile 

Is a native of Smith township, Washington County, Pa. She 
was an assistant for three years during- the public terms of 
1876-7, 1878-9 and 1879-80. She taug-ht two terms in Han- 
over township ; one in Cross Creek township ; and one in 
Jefferson township, all in this county. She resides with her 
father, John Riddile, in Jefferson township, this county. 

R. W. Dawson 

Was born in Beallsvnlle, Washing-ton County, Pa., in 1853. 
He g-raduated at Washington and Jefferson College, Washing-- 
ton, Pa., in the class of 1877. He conducted a normal term 
here in 1877, and reports thirty pupils in attendance. He was 
principal of the school of his native town and of the West 
Alexander, Pa., school. He entered the employ of the B. & 
O. Railway Company, and then went to Homestead, Pa., 
where he is calculating- clerk in the Homestead Steel Works. 

David Franklin Enoch 

Is a son of Dr. Hiram D. Enoch, of Washing-ton, Pa., and was 
born at Hillsborough, Washington County, Pa., January 1, 
1855. Educated at Trinity and Washington Collleg-es ; ad- 
mitted to the Washing-ton, Pa., bar in May, 1877. He was 
associated with R. W. Dawson in conducting a six-weeks' nor- 
mal term in Burgettstown, in 1877. In 18S0 he was associ- 
ated with D. W. l:*atterson in conducting- a similar term. He 
was assistant principal of the Burg-ettstown school the public 
term of 1889-*)0. He had charge of the summer terms of 
1890 and 1891. He taug-ht in Hanover and Smith townships, 
this county. Three 3'ears of the time spent in Smith town- 
ship he was principal of the Midway school. Midway is an 



BIOGRAPHY. 69 

unincorporated villag-e, situated partly in Robinson and 
partly in Smith townships, this county. In 1891 Prof. Knoch 
was chosen assistant principal of the Washing-ton, Pa., Hig"h 
school, which position he held four years. In 1895 he was 
chosen principal of the schools of Hyndman, Bedford County, 
Pa., which position he still holds. 

Dr. Samuel Logan McCuUough 

Is the son of John L. and Julia A. ( Log-an ) McCulloug-h, and 
was born in Hopewell township. Washing-ton County, Pa. 
Dr. McCulloug-h was principal of the summer term of 1877. 
He spent twelve years in teaching-. Part of that time in 
Smith township, this county. He g-raduated at a medical 
colleg-e in Baltimore, Md., in 1882. He practiced in Midway, 
Pa., and Frankfort Spring-s, Pa. He is now located in Car- 
neg-ie. Pa., where he is eng-ag-ed in the practice of his pro- 
fession. 

Dr. L. C. Beal 
Was born December 30, 1851, in Franklin township, Fayette 
County, Pa. Entered the State Normal school at California, 
Pa., in 1871, and g-raduated in 1876. Beg-an teaching- at the 
Grable school, in Fallowfield township, this county, and was 
principal of the Brownsville, Pa., school 1876-7. Principal 
of the Burg-ettstown school 1877-8. He g-raduated in the 
medical department of the Western Reserve University, at 
Cleveland, Ohio, in 1884. He resides at Uniontown, Pa., 
where he is eng-ag-ed as a physician and drug-gist. 

Miss Esther A. Porter 
Was an assistant the public terms of 1877-8, 1878-9 and 
1879-80. Miss Porter spent several j-ears in teaching-. She 
is a native of Jefferson township, Washing^ton County, Pa. 
She was married to Log-an V. Duncan, March 20, 1884, and 
resides with him in Smith township, Washing-ton County, Pa. 

Miss Rea T. Wilson 
Was an assistant the public term of 1877-8, and the summer 
term of 1878. Miss Wilson is a native of Paris, Washing-ton 



70 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

County, Pa. She taught twenty years. She taug'ht music 
and penmanship each one term. She married William V. 
Dunbar, June 25, 1890, and lives with him at their home on 
the Willow Bend Farm in Smith township, Washing-ton 
County, Pa. 

David Wallace Patterson 

Is a son of Lysander Patterson, Esq., of Washington, Pa., 
and was born near Patterson's Mill, Washington County, Pa., 
March 27, 1846. He was principal the public terms here of 
1878-9 and 1879-80, and of the summer terms of 1878, 1879 
and 1880. After the close of the summer terms of 1879 and 
1880, he taught a normal term each of the two years named. 
He was assisted in the normal term of 1879 by his brother. 
Dr. John M. Patterson — term six weeks. He was assisted in 
the normal term of 1880 bv Prof. D. F. Enoch. Twelve 
students in the class. Mr. Patterson had charge of a night 
class for three months during his last public term. He began 
teaching in his native township, Cross Creek, in 1870. 
Taught two years at Horeb, Hancock County, W. Va ; three 
years at Manchester's, Independence township, this county ; 
two years at Sharon, Beaver County, Pa.; two years in Rob- 
inson township, Allegheny County, Pa. In 1882 he took 
charge for three years of the Bjlivar scho)l, Westmoreland 
County, Pa. He also taught two normal terms there — 1883 
and 1884. He returned to his native township in 1884, where 
he taught one term ; then two in Jefferson township, this 
county. Spent the next three years on the farm. In 1890 he 
took charge of the Cross Creek Village school for three years, 
and taught a summer term in 1891 ; Buckeye Valley, in his 
native township, one term ; his home school, the Point, in 
1895, which position he still holds. He resides near Patter- 
son's Mill. 

Dr. John Mason Patterson 

Is a son of Lysander Patterson, Esq., now a resident of 
Washington, Pa., and was born near Patterson's Mill, Wash- 



BIOGRAPHY. 71 

ing-ton County, Pa., in July, 1853. He taug-ht two or more 
public terms, and assisted his brother, D. W. Patterson, to 
conduct a normal term in Burg-ettstown the summer of 
1879. He studied medicine and practiced at Lilley's Cam- 
bria County, Pa.; Pittsburg-, Pa., and eig-ht years in Colorado. 
He is now located at Hermine, Westmoreland County, Pa. 

Miss Sarah K. Morris 

Was a native of Venice, Washing-ton County, Pa. She 
taug-ht an independent summer term in room No. 2, in the 
Union school building, in 1879. She taug-ht three winter 
terms in Mt. Pleasant township, this county. She died at 
her home at Venice, Pa., Aug-ust 7, 1881. 

Luther Melancthon Axtell 

Was principal the public term 1880-81. He was a resident of 
Greenfield, now Coal Center, Washing-ton County, Pa., where 
he had been for five years principal of the school of that 
place previous to his teaching- here, and for two years after 
leaving- Burg-ettstown. He was a graduate of the State Nor- 
mal school, California, Pa. Mr. Axtell was born in Richhill 
township, Greene County, Pa., January 9, 1854. His parents 
shortly afterward moved to Franklin township, this county, 
where he lived until he was thirteen years old, and remained 
in this county until his death. He beg-an teaching- in 1869. 
He taug-ht two years in West Brownsville, five years in Green- 
field, Pa., now Coal Center. After leaving- Burg-ettstown he 
returned to Coal Center and taug-ht there several years. He 
was elected Recorder of Deeds for Washing-ton Countv in 
1890. He died March 18, 1891. 

Miss Lizzie Galbraith 

Was an assistant the public term of 1880-81. She is the 
daug-hter of James A. Galbraith, a former teacher here. She 
married S. A. Crozier, a merchant, and resides with him at 
Canonsburg, Pa. 



72 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

Miss Alice Stevenson 

Was an assistant the public terms of 1880-81 and 1881-2. She 
taug-ht an independent term the summer of 1881. She re- 
sides with her father, James M. Stevenson, near Raccoon, 
Smith township, Washing-ton County, Pa. 

Dr. W. D. Hamaker 

Taught an academical and normal term in 1881, and an aca- 
demical term in 1881. He was born in Shellsburg, Bedford 
County, Pa., in 1859. Attended Washington and Jefferson 
CoUeg-e. He is located at Meadville, Crawford County, Pa. 

Charles Jerome Vance 

Was the first principal after Burg-ettstown was incorporated, 
teaching- the public term of 1881-2. He is the son of John S. 
Vance, and was born in Smith township, Washington 
County, Pa., Aug-ust 31, 1853. Attended Oakdale academy. 
Began teaching- in September, 1870, and closed the spring- of 
1882. He taught the public schools of Oakdale and Salts- 
burg-, both in Allegheny County, Pa. Taught mathematics 
one term in Oakdale academy. He eng-ag-ed in the boot and 
shoe business for a while here after teaching. He now re- 
sides in Oakdale, Allegheny County, Pa. 

Miss Agnes E. Keys 

Was an assistant teacher the public term of 1881-2. She 
has taught some eight or ten years. She is a native of 
Smith township, this county, and is the daug-hter of John 
and Mary (Shillito) Keys. She resides with her mother in 
Smith township. 

Miss Lizzie McCarrell 

Was an assistant the public terms of 1881-2, 1888-9, 1890-91 
and 1891-2. She is a native of Jefferson township, Washing- 
ton County, Pa. Received her education at Washing-ton 
Female Seminary and Muskingum Colleg-e, New Concord, 
Ohio. She was prevented from graduating at the latter 



BIOGRAPHY. 73 

school, being- called home on account of the death of her 
brother. She has taug-ht a number of years in West Vir- 
g-inia and Pennsylvania, and was counted a very successful 
teacher. She resides in Eldersville, Pa., with her sister, Mrs. 
Henry Cooper. 

Miss Sarah E. Fredericks 

Is a native of Burg-ettstown, and daug-hter of Rev. James T. 
Fredericks, who was pastor of the First Presbyterian church 
in Burg-ettstown from 1858 until his death in 1886. She 
g-raduated from the Pennsylvania Colleg-e, Pittsburg-, Pa. In 
1882 she taug-ht an independent summer term. She taug-ht 
Latin for some time at her father's residence. She was mar- 
ried October 17, 1883, to Rev. Samuel F. Marks, now pastor 
of the Presbyterian cong-reg-ation at Tidioute, Pa., where she 
resides with her husband. 

Milton Richard Snodgrass 

Was principal of the public term of 1882-3, and a part of the 
term of 1883-4, resig-ning- to eng-ag-e in other business. He 
taug-ht a summer term and a normal term each in 1883. He 
was born in Doneg-al township, Washing-ton County, Pa., 
January 13, 1859. He g-raduated at the State Normal school, 
California, Pa. Beg-an teaching- in the fall of 1876. About 
the year 1884 he went to Nebraska, and was for some years 
principal of the public school of Osceola, Polk county. Then 
at Wisner, Cuminc^ Cjunty, Nebraska. At the seventh an- 
nual g-raduating- exercises of the Wisner Hig-h school, June 1, 
1896, there were twelve g-raduates, two ladies and ten g-entle- 
men. Here the reverse is more likely to occur — ten ladies 
and no g-entlemen. He resides at Wisner, Nebraska, where 
he is still continued as principal of the school in that place. 

Miss Clara B. Reed 

Is a native of Cross Creek township, Washing-ton County, 
Pa., and is a daug-hter of James M. K. and Marv P. Reed. 
Miss Reed was an assistant three months of the public term 
of 1882-3. She was educated in the common schools and the 



74 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

Cross Creek Academy. She beg-an teaching- in her native 
township in 1879, beginning- at Willow Valley-, one term ; two 
terms at Bucke3'e Valley- ; one term each at Beech Knob and 
Cross Creek Village, all in her native township. Four sum- 
mer and three winter terms at Hardy's, North Strabane town- 
ship, this county, and four terms at Imperial, Allegheny 
County, Pa. Miss Reed married Andrew C. Wils )n, Novem- 
ber 26, 1896, and resides with him in her native township. 

John Fremont Vance 
Completed the term as assistant the public term of 1882-3. 
He served as assistant the public terms of 1884-5 and 1885-6. 
He is a native of Smith township, Washington County, Pa., 
and is the son of John S. Vance, and was born Februar}- 9, 
1862. He began teaching September, 1879, at the Collins 
school. South Fayette township, Allegheny County, Pa. 
1880-81 at Bulger, Smith township, this county ; 1881-2 near 
Wilkinsburg, Pa.; 1883-4 at No. 9, his native township. His 
last term was Burgettstown, quitting the spring of 1836. His 
occupation at present is clerk, having- entered the service of 
the Pennsyivania lines, west of Pittsburg-. When he entered 
the service he resolved to make himself so useful that the 
company would not dispense with his services. He has been 
promoted several times. He is now in the department of 
Auditor of Claims. He resides in Bridgeville, Allegheny 
County, Pa. 

Miss Flora B. Daugherty 
Is a native of Burgettstown, and a daughter of John and 
Abigal (Cannon ) Daugherty. She graduated at the Steuben- 
ville, Ohio, Female Seminary. She was an assistant the pub- 
lic terms of 1882-3 and 18 34-5, and was a teacher the summer 
terms of 1883, 1884, 1885 and 18^)2. She has taught else- 
where as follows: Five years in Smith township; two years 
assistant at Claysville ; live years assistant at East Washing- 
ton, all in this county, and retained for the term 1897-8. In 
1895 Miss Daugherty took a primary course in the Chautauqua 
school of Pedagogy. She resides with her sister, Mrs. M. R. 
Allen, East Washington, Pa. 



BIOCiKAPHY. /n 

Miss Leila J. Anderson 

Was a native of Jefferson township, this county- She was 
an assistant the public terms of 1882-3 and 1883-4. She died 
in Burg-ettstown, July 20, 1884. 

Miss Leila Cora McCabe 

Was a native of Paris, Washing-ton County, Pa., and a daug-h- 
ter of John D. McCabe, now a resident of Burgettstown. 
She taug^ht her first term in the primary department, the pub- 
lic term of 1883-4. She taug-ht two years elsewhere. She 
was married December 22, 1892, to Jesse H. Cramer, a printer, 
and resided at Crafton, Pa., until six weeks before her death, 
d3nng- at the home of her parents in Burg-ettstown, January 2, 
1895. 

John S. Porter, 

A. native of Jefferson township Washing-ton County, Pa., was 
born September 12, 1853. He was principal of the Burg-etts- 
town school three days, being elected to succeed Prof. M. R. 
Snodgrass, who had resigned. Mr. Porter was teaching- at 
No. 7, Smith township, but the directors of that township re- 
fused to release him. Mr. Porter attended Rev. John Todd's 
school for two 3-ears; six months at Delaware College, Ohio, 
and quit on account of his health ; two years — 1879 to 1881 — 
a student at Washing-ton and Jefferson College, Pa. His 
health again failing- him he was obliged to quit. Began 
teaching the fall of 1875. He was elected County Auditor 
in 1884. He assisted in the audit of 1885, but was not able to 
attend the audit in January, 1886. He died March 22, 1886. 

Vincent J. Stiliwagen 

Completed the public term of 1883-4 as principal. He was 
born in West Finley township, this county, January 15, 1863. 
His father and mother dying when he was young, he removed 
to ClaN'sville, Pa., and made his home with his uncle. A. J. 
Stiliwagen. In 1877 he entered St. Vincent College, Latrobe, 
Pa., graduating- in the commercial course with the highest 
honor in 1880, and in the following vear he completed classics. 



76 A CENTUKY OF EDUCATION. 

In the fall of 1881 he beg-an the study of hiw with the Hon, 
E. G. Cracraft, of Wheeling-. W. Va., and at the same time 
taug-ht his first school term at No. 4, East Finley township, 
this county. At the time of his death he was a member of 
the law firm of Barbour & Stillwag-en, Spring-field, Mo. He 
died at Springfield in March, 1893. 

Miss M. Ethic Brimner 
Is a daug-hter of William Brimner, of Burg-ettstown, Pa., and 
was born in Hanover township. Washing-ton County, Pa. She 
was an assistant the public term of 1883-4. She taug-ht three 
years elsewhere. She was married Aug-ust 29, 1888, to James 
A. McKeown, of Buffalo township. Washing-ton County, Pa., 
and resides with her husband at Claysville, Pa., where he is 
eng-ag-ed as clerk m the National Bank of that place. 

George Miller McFarland, 

Who taug-ht an academic term the summer of 1884, is the 
son of Andrew McFarland, and was born in Cross Creek Vil- 
lag-e. Washing-ton County, Pa., in 1841. Was g-raduated from 
Jefferson Academy, Canonsburg-, Pa. Taug-ht in Cross Creek 
Villag-e, in the West, at Warrenton, Ohio, and Burg-ettstown. 
At Warrenton the school house was removed by the flood of 
February, 1884. He is in the employ of J. B. Haines, Pitts- 
burg-, Pa. 

Miss Annie Armstrong 
Is a native of Mt. Pleasant township, Washington County, 
Pa. She was an assistant the summer term of 1884, and had 
several years experience in teaching. She married Thomas 
M. Perry, of Cross Creek township, this county, and resides 
with him in Washington County, Iowa. 

James Garrett Dunbar 

Was principal the public term of 1884-5. He was born at the 
Dunbar Homestead, ( Willow Bend P^ arm ), Smith township, 
Washington County, Pa., September 20, 1852. He attended 
the common school at No. 3, Cinder Hill, Smith township, the 



BIOGKAPHY. 77 

Burg-cttstown Union school and Frankfort Sprinj^-s, Pa., 
academ}'. He taug-ht his first school of two terms in Pleas- 
ant Hill district, near Macomb, McDonoug-h County, Illinois, 
beg-inning- in 1873. Read medicine with Dr. W. V. Riddile, 
of Burgettstown, Pa., but abandoned it on account of his eyes 
failing him. Took charge of the Calcutta graded school, 
Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1879, which position he held for 
three years. Taught two terms at No. 4, Point Pleasant, 
Smith township, beg-inning- September, 1882. After teaching- 
here he engaged in the boot and shoe business at this place ; 
afterward a furniture dealer in East Liverpool, Ohio. For 
some time he has been eng-aged in the real estate business, at 
Pittsburg, Pa. 

Miss Mattie B. Jolly 
Was in the primary department the public terms of 1884-5, 
1885-6 and 1886-7, and was one of the teachers the summer 
term of 1885. She was a native of Donegal township, Wash- 
ington County, Pa. Her father, E. B. Jolly, was a promi- 
nent teacher in that part of the county. Her last term was in 
Canonsburg, Pa. She died at West Middletown, Pa., April 
29, 1890. 

Byron Everett Tombaugh 
Was born at Vanceville, Somerset township, Washington 
County, Pa., December 3, 1861. He completed algebra in 
connection with the common school course. He attended a 
normal school at Beallsville, Pa., completing- the course at 
Lone Pine, Pa. Took a course in mathematics at Hunting-- 
don. Pa., CoUeg-e, and g-raduated at the State Normal School, 
California, Pa., in 1883, standing- first in a class of fortv- 
seven. He taught four terms in West Bethlehem township, 
this county. Two terms principal of the public school of 
Masontown, Fayette County, Pa. He taught a normal term 
in Burgettstown the summer of 1885. Principal of the Bur- 
g-ettstown school the public terms of 1885-6 and 1886-7. He 
taug-ht five months of the term 1885-6, when he w^as oblig-ed 



78 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

to resig'n on account of sickness. The term of 188()-7 was 
eig-ht months. He left at the close of the first week of the 
seventh month in order to canvass for the office of County 
Superintendent. In the spring- of 1889 he returned to Bur- 
g"ettstown and opened an academical and normal school, occu- 
pying- room No. 4, in the Union school building-. During the 
fall and winter of 1889-90 he occupied a room over H. B. Mc- 
Murray's drug- store, and returned to the Union school build- 
ing in April, 1890, with J. D. Hornbake, assistant. In 1889 
Mr. Tombaugh brought his family to Burgettstown and be- 
came one of her citizens. In May, 1890, Mr. Tombaug-h was 
elected County Superintendent, and re-elected in 1893. After 
the expiration of his term he studied law and was admitted to 
the bar of the Washington county courts in June, 1897. He 
resides at East Washington, Pa. 

Miss Annie M. Vance 

Was an assistant teacher the public terms of 1885-6 and 
1893-4. She has taug-ht eig-ht years, and g-raduated from the 
State Normal school, California, Pa., in the class of 1888. 
She is a native of Cross Creek township. Washing-ton County, 
Pa. She resides in Burgettstown with her father, W. P. 
Vance. 

Albert Pierson Dennis 

Completed the public term of 1885-6 as principal for two 
months. Before coming to Burgettstown Mr. Dennis taught 
four years in Hanover township, this county, and two years 
at Bulger, Smith township, this county. Mr. Dennis is a 
native of Hanover township, Washington County, Pa. He 
has been a resident of Wellsville, Ohio, for a number of 
years. He is conducting the business of plumbing- and g-as 
fitting-. On April 4, 1898, he was elected mayor of his adopt- 
ed cit3'. 

Rev. foseph H. Sutherland 

Is a native of West Finley township, Washington County, 
Pa. He graduated from the State Normal school, California, 



BIOGRAPHY. 



79 



Pa., in the class of 1883. He taug-ht three years. He com- 
pleted the public term of 188()-7 for Mr. Tombaugh, who was 
a candidate for County Superintendent in 1887. Mr. Suther- 
land graduated from the Western Theological Seminary, Alle- 
gheny, Pa., in 1890. His first pastorate was the Second Pres- 
byterian church, Kittanning, Pa. In April, 1898, he received 
the appointment as post chaplain in the U. S. army at the 
hands of President McKinley, and resigned his charg-e at New 
Cumberland, W. Va., his second ministerial field. 

Robert Patterson Stevenson 

Was principal the public terms of 1887-8 and 1889-90. He is the 
son of John and Harriet (Smith) Stevenson, and was born in 
Smith township. Wash. Co., Pa., Oct. 24, 1852. His father was 
a prominent citizen and a leading- educator in his time. Mr. 
Stevenson began to teach in 1872, and has taught continu- 
ously ever since. Beg-inning- at Eldersville, Jefferson town- 
ship, this county, teaching- three years in that township, one 
in Cross Creek township, two in Burg-ettstown, six years in 
Robinson township, Allegheny County, Pa., and fourteen 
years in Smith, his native township. In the spring- of 1886 
he opened a normal and high school at Eldersville, Pa., of 
which he has had charge every year since. The class of 1896 
contained forty normal students ; in this class but one of 
proper age failed to receive a certificate from the County 
Superintendent. There were fifty-seven students in the class 
of 1897. All but one of proper age received certificates, 
eight being professional. There are sixty students num- 
bered in the class of 1898. Mr. Stevenson stands at the head 
of the list as a normal school instructor. His classes on ex- 
amination day are second to none in Washington county. He 
was connected with the Union Agricultural Association of 
Burgettstown, and was twice its president— 1894 and 1895. 
In December, 1896, he was appointed justice of the peace for 
the borough of Burgettstown, until the first Monday of May, 
1897, Hon. D. M. Pry having resigned to take his seat as a 
member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. Feb- 



80 A CENTUKV OF EDUCATION. 

ruary 16, 1897, Mr. Stevenson was elected a justice for the 
full term of live years. He resides with his mother in Bur- 
o-ettstown. He taug-ht the Plum Run school, Smith town- 
ship, 1897-8. 

Miss Jean E. Montgomery- 
Was an assistant the public terms of 1880-7 and 1887-8. She 
is a native of Smith township, and a daug-hter of Moses I. 
Montg-omery. She taught about five years. When she 
taught here her home was with her mother, at Bulger, Pa. 
She married William McConnell, September 18, 1889, and re- 
sides with him at Grafton, Pa. 

Miss Margaret A. Simcox 
Is a native of Hickory, Washing-ton County, Pa. She is a 
successful teacher of several years' experience. She was an 
assistant here the public terms of 1888-9 and 1889-90. After 
leaving: Burgettstown she taught in the public school of Can- 
onsburg. She is one of the present corps of teachers in the 
public school of McDonald, Pa. In the summer of 1897 she 
took a course in the School of Pedagogy, Milwaukee, Wis- 
consin. 

James Albert Smith 
Taught the summer term of 18S8. He was born in Independ- 
ence township, Washington County, Pa., May 9, 1860. At- 
tended several normal terms at Claysville, Pa. Beg-an teach- 
ing in September, 1877, at McAdoo's, Donegal township, then 
the Gunn and Knob, in West Finley township ; two terms in 
Petis County, Missouri ; principal of the Burnsville school ; 
one term at Beech Knob, Cross Creek township ; two terms in 
Smith township ; one terra at Lee's, Jefferson township ; prin- 
cipal of the public schools of McDonald, Pa., the terms of 
1890-91 and 1891-2. All of the above schools are in this coun- 
ty except one. In February, 1895, he founded the McDonald 
Telephone, now the Record. After two years as its editor 
and proprietor hesold out. Mr. Smith resides at McDonald. 



BIOGRAPHY. 81 

William Chester Black 
Was principal the public term of 1888-9. He was born near 
Brookville, Jefferson County-, Pa., February 24, 1859. At- 
tended the common schools of West Mahoning- township, In- 
diana County, Pa.; the spring- terms of Saltsburg- Academy, 
1879 and 1880 ; six months in the hig-h school, Beaver, Pa., 
and g-raduated from the State Normal school, Edinboro, Pa., 
in June, 1888. Beg-an teaching- in West Mahoning- township, 
Indiana County, Pa., in the fall of 1879. Elected principal 
of the public school of Canonsburg-, Pa., in 1891, which posi- 
tion he retains. He married Miss Marg-aret H. Work, of In- 
diana Count}', Pa., February, 1886. 

James Thompson Frazer 

Taug^ht a primary and intermediate term here for two months 
in the summer of 1889. He was born October 21, 1868, in 
Hanover township. Washing-ton County, Pa. He attended the 
academy at Hookstown, Pa., one term and a term at the 
State Normal School, Edinboro, Pa. Taug-ht the Nickel 
school, Hanover township, Beaver Count}', Pa., 1887-8, and 
the Dillow school, Hanover township, this county, 1889-90. 
In the fall of 1890 he entered Westminster CoUeg^e, New Wil- 
niinton. Pa., and g-raduated in the class of 1895. He was 
elected principal of the academy at Buffalo, this county, in 

1896 and conducted the school for one year. In the fall of 

1897 he was chosen principal of the West Middletown, Pa., 
public school. 



Miss Lizzie J. Nicholls 

Was an assistant the public terms of 1889-90 and 1890-91. 
She taug-ht a summer term in 1891. She taug-ht one term 
each in Cross Creek and Hanover townships, this county. She 
is a native of Iowa. Her father, J. K. Nichols, has been a 
resident of Burgettstown about twenty years. She married 
Holland A. Scott, October 20, 1891, and resides with him in 
Burg-ettstown. 



82 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

Joseph D. Hornbafce 

Was born in California, Pa. He g-raduated from the State 
Normal school, in his native town, in 1884. In 1890 he came 
here to assist Prof. Tombaug-h in his academical and normal 
school. Prof. Tombaug-h being- a candidate for Countv 
Superintendent that year, Mr. Hornbake took charge of the 
school and completed the term. 

Mrs. Clara M. Weaver 

Is a native of Smith township, and a daug-hter of John and 
Mary (Shillito) Keys. She taug-ht eight years, and married 
Thomas P. Weaver, of Canonsburg, Pa., in 1884, and resided 
with him in Peters township, this county, until his death. 
In 1890 she was chosen as an assistant in the public school of 
Burg-ettstown, a position she still retains. She is a resident 
Burgettstown. 

Miss Adda M. Purdy, 

Daughter of Rev. James L. Purdy, was born in Hanover 
township, Washington County, Pa. She was educated at 
Oakdale, Pa., and Pittsburg-, Pa., Academies. Taught her first 
term at the Farrar school, Hopewell township, this county. 
Continued to teach in various schools of the county until 
the fall of 1891, when she was elected to the primary room of 
Burgettstown Union school. After two years in that room 
she was promoted to room No. 4, in the school, where she re- 
mained until the spring- of 1895, when she accepted a position 
in Allegheny County, Pa. She was an assistant here the 
summer term af 1892. She accepted a position in the school 
of Coraopolis, AUeg-heny County, Pa., in 1896. In 1897 she 
was chosen one of the assistants in the school at Crafton, Pa. 
Her home is with a sister in Alleg-heny, Pa. 

Miss Lyda J. Purdy 

Is a native of Hanover township, Washing-ton County, Pa., 
and a daug-hter of Rev. James L. Purdy. She was educated at 
the academy at Frankfort Spring-s, Pa., and the normal col- 



BIOGKAPHY. 83 

leg-e at Hopedalc, Ohio. Taug-ht her first term in the Purdy 
school, in her native township. She continued to teach for a 
number of years in Washing-ton county. The last term in the 
county was in room No. 2, Burg-ettstown, 1892-3. She has 
since taught two years in the advanced room at Federal, Alle- 
gheny County, Pa. In 1896 she accepted a position in the 
Norfolk Mission College, Norfolk, Va. She makes her home 
with her sister, in Allegheny, Pa. 

John Calvin Minor 

Was born and raised near Poe, Beaver County, Pa. He 
taught in several of the prominent schools of Beaver county. 
He was principal of the Burgettstown Union school the pub- 
lic term of 1892-3. He is an attorney-at-law, and resides in 
Steubenville, Ohio. 

Miss Sara W. Harper 
Is a daughter of Dr. Joseph T. Harper, dentist, and was born 
in Buro-ettstown, Pa. She was an assistant the public term 
of 1893-4. She entered the Allegheny, Pa., General Hos- 
pital, in July, 1895, to become a trained nurse, graduating in 
the class of 1897. She is located in Allegheny, Pa., engaged 
in her profession. 

Simon Strouss Baker 
Was principal the public terms of 1893-4, 1894-5 and 1895-6. 
He taught a normal term in 1895. Prof. Baker was born in 
Amwell township, Washington County, Pa., July 11, 1866. 
He graduated from Washington and Jefferson College, Wash- 
ington, Pa., in 1892, receiving his preliminary instruction at 
Lone Pine Academy, Lone Pine, Pa. Prof. Baker came here 
in 1892, to take charge of the Union Academy. It was the 
last year of its existence. At the close of the academic year 
he was chosen principal of the Union school. Without ex- 
perience in common school work, he was successful from the 
start. He proved himself an efficient organizer, a successful 
teacher and principal. He was found worthy of the c mli- 



84 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

dence reposed in him by the board. He was ably aided by a 
corps of competent assistants. He was married October 2, 
1894, to Miss Grace L. Little, of Washing-ton, Pa. For a 
year after leaving- Burg-ettstown he was associated with his 
father, D. B. Baker, dealer in stoves, rang-es and general 
hardware. Washing-ton, Pa. We are pleased to learn that he 
has returned to school work. In June, 1897, he was chosen 
principal of the nine schools of Chartiers township, AUe- 
g-heny County, Pa., from Carneg-ie to South Side, Pittsburg. 
It is said there were no complaints during- his last term here — 
something new in the annals of school teaching-. 

Miss Dora B. Andrews 

Assisted in the public terms of 1894-5, 1895-6 and 1896-7. She 
was re-elected in June, 1897, but declined in order to accept a 
better position in the public schools of Grafton, Alleg-heny 
Gounty, Pa. Miss Andrews is a native of Ohio and was grad- 
uated from the State Normal School, Indiana, Pa., in the class 
of 1893. She makes her home with her father, M. Andrews, 
East Liverpool, Ohio. 

Miss Ina Andrews 

Spent four years in teaching-. Her last term was as assistant 
in the Burg-ettstown school, 1894-5. She married Robert Dick- 
son, June 20, 1895, and resides with him at Midway, Pa. 

Miss J. Etta Hobbs 

Was an assistant the public terms of 1895-6 and 1896-7. She 
was re-elected in June, 1897, but declined in order to accept a 
a more advantageous position in the public schools of Grafton, 
Pa. She was graduated from the State Normal School, Glar- 
ion, Pa., in 1892. She has taught in the public school of 
New Cumberland, West Va., and in the Academy and public 
school at Oakdale, Allegheny Gounty, Pa. She is a native of 
West Virginia and makes her home with her father, Colum- 
bus R. S. Hobbs, near New Cumberland, West Va. 



BIOGRAPHY. 85 

Miss Ada L. Dowden 

Taug-ht the primary department the public terms of 1895-6, 
1896-7 and 1897-8. She has taug-ht six years. She is a native 
of Mt. Pleasant township, Washing-ton County, Pa., and re- 
sides in Burg^ettstown with her father, D. J. Dowden, propri- 
etor of the Pan-Handle Hotel. 

A. Wylie Fulton, 
Son of D. S. Fulton, was born in Hanover township, Wash- 
ing-ton County, Pa., in 1867. Attended the Academj^ at Mc- 
Donald, Pa., three terms and the Normal and Hig-h School, 
Eldersville, Pa., four terms. He has taug-ht nine winter terms. 
In 1896 he had charg-e of the normal department of the Bur- 
gettstown Normal and Summer School. In 1897 he conducted 
a summer school in McBride's Hall, Bavington, Pa. He taug-ht 
the Plum Run school. Smith township, 1896-7. He was elect- 
ed July 12, 1897, to teach the Tenan school, Smith township, 
this county. Before the term opened he resig-ned on account 
of ill health. 

Rev. David Pollock Smith 
Was born in 1864, near Fort Palmer, Westmoreland County, 
Pa. His parents, Robert and Susan Smith, died when he was 
quite a child. At the age of 16 he attended the fall and win- 
terms of Franklin Colleg^e, New Athens, Ohio. In the spring- 
of 1882 he went to Elg-in, Cattaraugus Count}', New York, 
working- on a farm and clerking in a country store until the fall 
of 1883, when he entered Westminster Colleg-e, New Wilming-- 
ton. Pa., where he spent his third preparatory year. In 1884 
he went to Franklinville, New York, and remained as a clerk 
in the mercantile business for seven months, when he formed 
a partnership with his brother in the mercantile business at 
Elgin. He remained there until the spring- of 1886, going- 
then to Lig-onier, Westmoreland County, Pa., to the farm of a 
sister, remaining- one 3'ear. He next entered Duff's Colleg-e, 
Pittsburg, Pa., and then went to Topeka, Kansas, acting- as 
salesman and bookkeeper in the lumber business. In the fall 
of 1888 he returned to Westminster College and g-raduated in 



86 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

the class of 1892. Entering the Alleghen}- Theolog-ical Sem- 
inary in the fall of 1892, he g-raduated May 15, 1895. In the 
summer of 1893 he preached at the Tylerdale Mission, now 
the Third United Presbyterian church, Washington, Pa. In 
1894 he preached for the Mifflin congregation, Monongahela 
Presbytery. He was married in 1895 to Miss Maude, daugh- 
ter of James and Mary Hodgens, Taylorstown, Washington 
County, Pa. Their wedding trip was a novel one- -a drive of 
210 miles in a two-horse buggy to Franklinville, N. Y. Rev. 
Smith was ordained and installed pastor of the Paris (Wash- 
ington County, Pa.,) and Cross Creek (Brooke County, West 
Va., ) congregations in September, 1895. In the latter part 
of 1896 he resigned the pastorate of these two charges. In 
1896 he opened an academic and normal school in room 6, Un- 
ion school building, Burgettstown, A. W. Fulton having 
charge of the normal department. In the fall of 1896 he re- 
moved to Taylorstown. He is now located in Allegheny. Pa. 



Will C. Farabee 
Was born February 7, 1865, in Morris township, Washington 
County, Pa. He attended two terms at the State Normal 
School, California, Pa., and graduated at Waynesburg Col- 
lege, Waynesburg, P., in the class of 1894 with the degree of 
A. B. Post graduated in the same college in 1895, receiving 
the degree of A. M. Began teaching in 1895 at Simpson's, 
in East Finley township, this county, then at the Joint school. 
East Finley and Morris townships. He was married in 1887 
to Miss Sylvia Holden, of Morris township. Taught the 
Sparta school, in his native township, 1895-6 ; principal of 
the Burgettstown school, 1896-7. Conducted a normal school 
at Jackson Center, Mercer County Pa., the summer of 1897. 
His wife had charge of the musical department. She gradu- 
ated with him at Waynesburg Conservatory of Music in 1895. 
Prof. Farabee was chosen principal of the Burgettstown 
school, for the term of 1897-8, but resigned to accept the prin- 
cipalship of the academy recently organized at Jackson Cen- 
ter, where he is now located. 



BIOCxRAPHY. 87 

William "W. Pees 

Was born Aug-ust 5, 1872, in Somerset township, Washing-ton 
County, Pa., and lived in that township until within the past 
jear, when he removed to Washing-ton, Pa. He attended the 
State Normal School, California, Pa., 1889 and 1890. Beg-an 
teaching- at No. 7, in his native township ; one year at the 
Bryant shool and two years at DeVoe's, both in Notting-ham 
township ; 1894-5 and 1895-6 at the Gibson school, and 1896-7 
at Fairview, both in South Strabane township. The latter is 
now included in the new boroug-h of North Washing-ton, Pa. 
July 5, 1897, he was elected principal of the Burg-ettstown 
school. He married Miss Clara E. Thompson, of Chicora, 
Pa., July 23, 1896. 



Miss Anna M. Cowen, 

Daug-ht of William H. Cowen. is a native of Cross Creek 
township, this county. Her father removed to Hanover town- 
ship, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, a number of years ag-o. 
She g-raduated from the State Normal School, Slippery Rock, 
Pa., in the class of 1895. She taug-ht four years in Hanover 
township, Beaver County, beg-inning- in the fall of 1890 ; two 
at Florence, this county, the first year in the primary depart- 
ment and the second year in the advanced department. In 
the spring- and summer of 1897 she taug-ht in the Academy at 
Frankfort Spring-s, Beaver County. July 5, 1897, she was 
elected teacher in room No. 4, Burg-ettstown. Her home is 
with her widowed mother, in Beaver County. 



Miss Nora B. Osborn 

Is a native of Robinson township. Washing-ton County, Pa., 
where she resided until the spring- of 1897, when her father, 
James J. Osborn, removed to his farm, known as the Proudlit 
farm, on the east side of Dinsmore Summit, Smith township. 
Miss Osborn g-raduated at the State Normal school at Indiana, 
Pa., in the class of 1897. She taug-ht one term in Jefferson 



88 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

township and two terms in the same school, Mt. Pleasant 
township, both in this county. July 5, 1897, she was elected 
to teach room No. 2, in the Burg-ettstown school. 

Miss Elizabeth N. Stephenson 

Daug-hter of Matthew R. Stephenson, is a native of Cross 
Creek Village, this county. She attended one term at the 
State Normal school, California, Pa. She taught seven years 
in Cross Creek township, this county, and one term as principal 
of the school of Independence, this county. She was chosen 
teacher of room No. 5, Burg-ettstown, October 2, 1897. She 
makes her home in Burg-ettstown with her father, who is en- 
gag-ed in the g-eneral mercantile business under the name of 
Stephenson & Scott. 

Miss Agnes Rankin 

Taug-ht one summer and one winter in what is now known as 
the Parker house, 1848 and 1848-9. Her brother, James G. 
Rankin, was pastor of the Robinson U. P. church, Robinson 
township, this county, from April, 1849, until his death, 
November 6, 1868. A sister married Rev. R. J. Hammond, 
who was pastor of the U, P. church, Burg-ettstown, from 1845 
until 1857. Miss Rankin married Rev. Byron Porter, who 
had charg-e of the congregations of Elderton, Armstrong- 
county, and Shelocta, Indiana county, this state. Mrs. Por- 
ter has been a widow for twenty years. She resides at Pleas- 
ant Unity, Westmoreland County, Pa., with her daughter, 
who is the wife of Rev. Robert Smith. 

Miss Mary Rogers 

Taug^ht here at one time, date unknown at present. She was 
a native of Smith township, this county. She resided at 
Utica, Ohio, with her brother, Dr. Joseph Rogers, until his 
death, in May, 1896. 

Samuel T. White, 

Who taught an academic school the fall and winter of 
1861-2, was a native of Smith township, this county, and a 



BIOGKAPHY. 89 

son of John White. He is an attornej-at-law, and resides at 
Warrensburg-, Mo. 

Alexander M. White 

Succeeded his brother, Samuel T. White. He taug-ht the 
summer of 1862. He was a native of Smith township, this 
county, and a son of John White. He died in June, 1866. J. 
Cook White, of this place, is his son. 

Prof. Joseph R. MiUer 

Came here from Michig-an, in the fall of 1875. He had a 
g-ood school gathered about him. Before the winter term 
closed death overtook him and called him away from his 
labor. 

Rev. Z. B. Taylor 

Succeeded Prof. Miller, and conducted the school for more 
than a year. Mr. Taylor entered the ministry of the Presby- 
terian church. He was located at Minnewaukon, North Da- 
kota, for several years. Later he was pastor of the Presbyte- 
rian church at Independence, Pa. His present charg-e is at 
Harrisville, Butler County, Pa. 

Rev. D. F. Dickson^ 
Of the class of 1874, Westminster Colleg-e, New Wilming-ton, 
Pa., who had finished his second year at the Theological 
Seminary, Alleg-heny, Pa,, came here in April, 1876, and 
taught a classical school. The students recited in his own 
house, which was located on the present site of the Burg-etts- 
town National Bank building-. Mr. Dickson left in July, the 
same year. He is pastor of the Presbyterian congreg-ation, 
East Palestine, Ohio. 

Rev. John Todd 
Was born in Beaver County, Pa., January 25, 1806. Entered 
Jefferson College in 1832 ; graduated 1837 ; entered the Theo- 
logical Seminary at Canonsburg the same year ; was licensed 
to preach the gospel by the presbytery of Chartiers, July 4, 



90 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

1841. He preached continuously for thirty-six years. He 
located in Burg-ettstown in 1877, and preached occasionally 
for two years. He was in academical work from the fall of 
1877 until the spring- of 1880. He was the first principal of 
the Academy at Brookeville, Jefferson County, Pa., November 
30, 1857. He died in Burg-ettstown, September 30, 1881. 

James Haworth, 
A native of Philadelphia, and a g-raduate of the University 
of that city, taug-ht an academic term of twelve weeks, be- 
g-inning- January 2, 1888. The spring- session opened April 2. 
The school not self-sustaining-, he returned to his native city. 

James W. Fredericks, M. D., 
Is a native of Burg-ettstown, Pa., and a son of the late Rev. 
J. T. Fredericks, once a pastor of the First Presbyterian 
church here. He g-raduated from Washing-ton and Jefferson 
CoUeg-e, and from Jefferson Medical Colleg-e, Philadelphia, 
Pa. He is located at Duke Center, McKean County, Pa. 

Prof, and Mrs. Bridgeman. 
I. M. Bridg-eman and his wife, Alice (Foley) Bridg-eman, 
came here from Franklin, Indiana county, and had charg-e of 
the Union Academy the first year of its existence — 1890-91. 
When they left here they went to Polo, Illinois. 

Owen Clark Underwood 
Was born in Washing-ton, Pa., March 12, 1S71. Graduated 
from Washing-ton and Jefferson Colleg-e in the class of 1891, 
with an honorary mention. Studied law with W. S. Parker, 
and was admitted to the bar in September, 1895. He was 
principal of the Union Academy from September, 1891, until 
June, 1892. His home is in Washing-ton, Pa. 

Miss Lois White 
Graduated from the Female Seminary, Washing-ton, Pa., and 
also from the Business Colleg-e, in the same place. She 
assisted Prof. Underwood two terms, during- the second year 



BIOGKAPHY. 91 

of the existence of the Union Academy. Miss White is a 
daug-hter of Rev. R. G. White, at one time pastor of the 
Christian church, Washing-ton, Pa., but now of the congreg-a- 
ton at Harrison, Ohio. She is an assistant in the Washing-- 
ton. Pa., Business Colleg-e. 

A. G. Boal 

Was born at Parnassus, Westmoreland County, Pa., Novem- 
ber 27, 1872. Educated in the common and high schools of 
Steubenville, Ohio. Graduated from Westminster Colleg-e, 
New Wilming-ton, Pa., in the class of 1896. Rev. D. P. 
Smith opened an academical school here in the spring- of 
1896. When he left in the fall of that year Prof. Boal took 
charg-e of the school for two terms, beg-inning- September 8, 
1896, and closing- March 24, 1897. Since that time the 
school has not been re-opened. Prof. Boal makes his home in 
Steubenville, Ohio. Recently he has been elected to the chair 
of Greek and Latin in the colleg-e at Nashville, Tenn. 



CHAPTER Xni. 

SCHOOLS TAUGHT BY WILLIAM MELVIN. 



WASHINGTON COUNTY, PA. 
Smith Township. 
No. 7, the Brick— 1855-6. 

No. 1, Burg-ettstown— 1858-9, 1860-1, 1861-2. Principal of 
the Union school 1875-6, 1876-7. Summer terms, pay schools, 
1858, 1862, 1875, 1876. After the incorporation of Burg-etts- 
town as a boroug-h in 1881, the Smith township school board 
formed a new school, the g-reater part or all of which was old 
No. 10. Old No. 10 was org-anized by Act of Assembly, 



92 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

about the year 1849. It was disbanded bv resolution of the 
board May 29, 1858. The new school formed in 1881 was 
g-iven Burg-ettstown's number — No. 1. 

No. 4, Baving-ton— 1859-60. In 1862 the school board ap- 
pointed him teacher of the same school. He taug-ht one week 
and one day, when the house was destroyed by fire. 

No. 10, Oak Hill — He completed the last half of the term 
1860-1, beginning March 12, 1861. This school was formed 
by resolution of the board September 17, 1853, and was num- 
bered 11 until the disbandonment of No. 10, in 1858. Oak 
Hill was on the James Fulton farm. In 1869 the house was 
removed to the farm of Thomas Houston, now Frank L. 
Andrews'. The house was then known by the poetical name 
of "Mud Hollow." In 1876 the site was changed and a new 
house was built on land of J. L. Proudfit, Esq., now Dr. W. 
P. Ta^^lor, a few rods north of Raccoon Station, P. C. C. & 
St. L. Railway, and called Raccoon. 

No. 10, Raccoon— 1884-5, 1885-6. 

No. 3, Cinder Hill— 1871-2, 1872-3, 1883-4. 

No. 9, Yellow— 1873-4, 1874-5, 1881-2, 1882-3, 1894-5, 
1895-6. 

No. 2, Plum Run- -1877-8, 1878-9, 1879-80, 1880-1, 1889-90. 

No. 5, Bulger— 1892-3, 1894-5. 

No. 6, Midway, South Side, upper room— 1896-7. 

Hanover Tow^nship. 

No. 1, Coventry— 1856-7. 

Borough of Burgettstown. 

No. 3, 1886-7, 1887-8, 1888-9. Principal 1890-1, 1891-2. 

SCHUYLER COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 
No. 2, Browning township — 1857, 1857-8, public terms. 

JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO. 

No. 8, La Grange, Wells township- 1862-3, 1865-6, 1866-7. 
A public term the summer of 1866, and a private school the 
summer of 1867. La Grange has since been incorporated as 
a borough, and is now known as Brilliant. 



THEN AND NOW. 93 

BROOKE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. 

No. 9, Fowlers, Cross Creek township— 1867-8, 1868-9, 
1869-70, 1870-1, summer of 1868, all public terms. 

No. 4, Wells, Buffalo township — A public term the sum- 
mer of 1871. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

teachers' normal. 

The second normal term for the teachers of Washing-ton 
county was opened in West Middletown, April, 1859, and was 
conducted for six weeks by the County Superintendent, I. H. 
Long-don. The following- who taught in Burgettstown were 
members of that school : Dr. J. F. McCarrell, S. h. Farrar, 
W. P. Montgomery, W. S. Fulton, William Melvin. 



CHAPTER XV. 

THEN and now. 

Looking back from the earl}- forties, we see a change. 
We have now what is the so-called "new education," which 
simply consists in a better presentment of the subject taught. 
This is the change. The first step in reading- was to learn 
the alphabet. Certain letters were early learned, while p, d, 
b and q were the last. The next step was to learn to spell ; 
the first lesson was : 



a-b 


ab 


b^a 


ba 


b-l-a 


bin 


e-b 


eb 


b-e 


be 


b-l-e 


ble 


i-b 


ib 


b-i 


bi 


b-l-i 


bll 


o-b 


6b 


b-o 


bo 


b-l--o 


bio 


u-b 


ub 


b u 


bu 


b-l-u 


blu 



94 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

The pupil or pupils stood around the "master," while he 
pointed to the letters with his tooth-pick, the pupils naming- 
the letters and the "master" pronouncing- the little words. 
Next came a list of words of three letters ending- in at, it, en, 
in and an. Next words of four letters, ever keeping- in view 
the teaching- and learning- of words whose ending- rhymed. 
Next came easy words of two syllables keeping- up the rhym- 
ing- process. The spelling- of these words "off the book" 
came next. When these words were mastered a First Reader 
was added as the second book — McGuffey's was ours. The 
days of reading- the easy words of the English Reader were 
gfone by. The New Testament was used as a class book until 
the breaking- out of the Civil war. The spelling- book was 
used for two purposes by the primary pupils ; 1st. The spell- 
ing- of the words oii the book or by sig-ht, and then pronounc- 
ing- them — thus : b-a ba k e-r ker ba'ker, and so on up to 
ab'-ra-ca-dab'-ra. Sometimes the pupil was required to 
pronounce the words at sight ; twice or three times a day 
this class recited. 2nd. The spelling- book was used for the 
purpose of learning- a g-iven number of words to spell "off" 
the book, the words being- dictated by the teacher. The 
pupils were anxious to see who would stand at the head of the 
class the longest, or to see who would g-et the most "head- 
marks." The older pupils formed another class in the same 
exercise. There was much rivalry and competition among- 
the pupils. Saturday afternoon was devoted in part to spell- 
ing- on "sides." (Twenty-six days constituted a month then. ) 
Spelling- schools were frequent during- the winter term. Great 
interest was manifested in them by the several communities. 
Sometimes one school challeng-ed another. These contests 
for the most part were of a friendly character, but occasion- 
ally there was "blood on the moon." There were g-iants in 
spelling in those da3's. The spelling book does not seem to 
be as important to-da}' as it was then. It was a happy thoug-ht 
that suggested written spelling- for a chang-e. By this method 
the pupil spells twenty or twenty-five words in the lesson in- 
stead of four or five. The teacher corrected the words as 
written on the slate, tablet or blackboard. But when thi cor- 



THEN AND NOW. 95 

rection was left to the pupils an Ananias was occasionally de- 
veloped. Cobb's Speller was our first. It was succeeded by 
Salem Town's Speller and Definer. McGuffey's was used in 
some of the Smith township schools. Osgood's followed in the 
sixties, but g-ave wa^- for a few 3'ears for Willson's. Os- 
good's was re-adopted in 1872, and was succeeded in 1882 by 
Patterson's, which is still in use in the township. The bor- 
ough adopted Pollard's for the primary rooms in 1893. Mc- 
Guffey's was introduced in the advanced rooms in 1896. 

But to return. The pupil did not make as rapid progress 
in reading as now, on account of the imperfect classification 
of the reading lessons. An improved method of teaching 
reading occurred in the early fifties by the introduction of 
Osgood's Reading Charts, published b}" A. H. English & Co., 
Pittsburg, Pa. It was a combination of the letter and word 
methods. Appleton's Charts — a combination of the word and 
phonic methods, were introduced in 1882. The Pollard sys- 
tem was introduced into the borough schools in 1893. It is 
meeting- with fair success. The teachers in charge have not 
been fully instructed in regard to its use. We will not under- 
take to say which is the best method of teaching reading. 
We had excellent results b}- using the Osgood charts. Each 
teacher can do his work better in the harness best suited to 
him. McGuffey's Readers gave way for the American Series 
of Readers by Lucius Osgood. They gave way for a short 
time for Willson's, (Harper's Series. ) This series had for its 
object the interesting of pupils in Natural History and Nat- 
ural Science, "hoping that they would be stimulated to seek 
a farther acquaintance with them." In 1872 they were suc- 
ceeded by Osgood's revised, (American Series.) They were 
all they claimed to be — a progressive series. This series, to- 
gether with the speller, was very poorly bound. That 
caused them, in 1882, to g-ive way to a series much better 
bound, but not as progressive— Sheldon and Co.'s Modern 
Readers and Patterson's Spellers. They are still in use in 
Smith township. Since their publishers have gone into the 
combine or syndicate, the books are not as well bound as at 
first. 



96 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

PENMANSHIP. 

Pupils were not required to beg-in writing- until they were 
ten years of ag-e or older. The g-oose quill had not ceased to 
be that from which the pen was made. It g-radually g-ave 
way to the steel pen. When the one ceased entirely, and the 
other reigned instead, we can not exactly state. We made 
one or two quill pens in 1855. In 1820 Joseph Gillott made 
an improvement in the metal pen that beg-an to be made in 
the beginning of the centur3\ 

The ruled fools-cap had been in use for some time. Six 
sheets, sewed tog-ether, made the copy book. Copy books 
with printed copies, by different authors, have superseded the 
home-made ones. The Vertical system appears to be the 
leading- system now. Better results followed when the 
teacher "set" the copies. The printed copy is a time-saver. 
There was a time when "setting- copies," making and mend- 
ing- pens and "doing" sums occupied the principal part of the 
teacher's time. The purple juice of the poke weed was used 
by some for ink, 

ARITHMETIC. 
In arithmetic each one mastered it as best he could. The 
multiplication table was written on slips and pasted on a pad- 
dle, or on the back of some book. Now it is written on the 
blackboard, and the pupil copies it on his little slate. The 
nearest attempt toward classification of pupils after reading- 
and spellings, was the reciting- of the multiplication in class. 
Adams, Emerson, the Western Calculator and other old 
authors were used. There was no classification and no recita- 
tion. Each one seemed desirous to g-et "through" the book 
as soon as possible, without any effort to understand the 
principle underlying the operation. If he failed to get his 
problem, then was heard "Master, do this sum for me," No 
explanations were given; none were required. The practice 
of writing the problem, together with the solution, in a book 
prepared by the pupil, was in its last stag-e. We have before 
us one of those books. It is unruled fools-cap paper, stitched 
tog-ether. The paper is of a verv poor quality, and inferior 



THEN AND NOW. 97 

to some wrapping" paper now used by the grocer and mer- 
chant. It is well preserved. The first date is January 9, 
1816, and the last one, May 9, of the same year. The name 
of Nathaniel Hunter occurs in one place. It is presumed the 
book was his. Nothing- indicates who was the teacher, or 
where the school. It was found by workmen a few years ago, 
when dismantling the Hunter flouring mill, on Harmon's 
creek, near Dinsmore, this county. We used the Western 
Calculator, Davies, Ray and Greenleaf, respectively. The 
last one named was introduced into the school by Matthew 
W. Galbraith, Smith township did not have entire uniform- 
ity in text-books until 1877. Ray, Greenleaf, Brooks and 
Stoddard were used. In that year, ( 1877, ) Goff was intro- 
duced ag-ainst the unanimous opposition of all the teachers 
who were chosen that year. It is still used in the township. 
The borough used Goff, Ray (revision of 1877, ) Milne and 
now Brooks. The text-books on arithmetic are only superior 
to those used forty years ago, save in the introduction of new 
problems. The Civil war created the Currency problems. 
Wall Street has contributed Stock problems. Trade discount 
and the discounting- of interest bearing- notes have also been 
added. Tare and Tret, Barter and Permutation have been 
omitted. The introduction of Mental arithmetic in 1858 was 
a step in the right direction. When pupils and teachers were 
called upon to explain the operations required in the solution 
of a problem, after a drill in Mental, they expressed them- 
selves in correct arithmetical languge, and not in the lan- 
g-uag-e of "Ashdod." But little attention was paid to Mental 
arithmetic after 1877. It was revived in 1893, but it is not 
studied as it once was. It should be continued with the omis- 
sion of the Queensware, Father Time and Jonah problems. 
The blackboard broug-ht about a revolution in the study of 
arithmetic. Pupils were classified and recited reg-ularly. 

GEOGRAPHY. 
Geog-raphy was not studied by all as now. Smith's Geo- 
g-raphy and Atlas, and Mitchel's system with Atlas were here 
over fifty years ag-o. They were followed by the Monteith 



98 A CENTUKY OF KDUCATIOX. 

and McNally system. Colton was introduced in 1872, by 
Georg-e Ralston, into the Plum Run school. The next year it 
found its way into No. 9. In 1874 it was adopted by the 
school board of Smith township. It was continued until 
1893, when it f^ave way to Barnes — a work no better and one 
more cheaply bound. Two cases, each containing- a complete 
set of mathematical blocks, a g-lobe and a tellurian were intro- 
duced into the Burgettstown school previous to or about the 
year 1845. The cases were considered too sacred for a while 
to be opened. Finally the boys ventured to open them, and 
take the planets out and let them revolve on the school-room 
floor. This was before croquet was played here. The mathe- 
matical blocks became scattered ; a part of one set was taken 
care of by the writer. Globes, including- the magnetic g-lobe, 
outline maps, sand boards, molding boards and books of ref- 
erence are valuable aids in teaching- g-eography. The 
Mitchell system has not been much improved upon. The 
Rand-McNally system is forcing- its way to the front. Acquisi- 
tion of territory, org^anization of new g^overnments and the 
chang-ing of 'iine fences" between nations have made a remark- 
able chang-e in the map of the political divisions of the earth. 
The Great American Desert, the Mandan District and the "lif- 
ty-four-forty-or-fig-ht" line have disappeared from the map of 
our country, Ethiopia from Africa and Patagonia from South 
America. The carving- knife has been at work in Denmark, 
France, Turkey, Bolivia, India and other nations. It is now 
at work in China. What chang-es that may be made in Asia 
and America by the Hispano-American conflict are yet to be 
seen. 

ENGLISH GRAMMAR. 
But few studied Kng-lish Grammar, and they were the 
older pupils. It g-radually g-rew in favor until at last every 
pupil is enrolled in a lang-uag^e class. The books used were 
Kirkham, Pinneo, Harvey, Burtt, and Reed and Kellog. There 
was a successive improvement by the different authors, and 
the teachers became better prepared to present the subject in 
a more intellig-ent and interesting- manner. Reed andKellog-g; 



THEN AND NOW. 99 

was thrown out of the boroug^h school and Conklin adopted. 
But the board in 1897 re-adopted the Reed and Kellog-g- sj's- 
tem except the "Hig-her Lessons in Eng-lish," Conklin being- re- 
tained for the advanced classes. The most improvement in 
text-books is in Eng-lish g-rammar, and the most improvement 
in methods of teaching-, is in teaching" Eng-lish g-rammar. 

HISTORY. 

The exact date when U. S. History was introduced cannot 
now be stated. Goodrich was about the first work used. 
Lossing- was adopted about the year 1876, and was used in 
Smith township until 1890 or 1891, when Anderson was intro- 
duced and is still the class book in history in that township. 
The borough board adopted Anderson in 1888. Barnes is now 
used. Each work used has its strong points, as well as its 
weak ones. 

PHYSIOLOGY 

Was introduced in 1885. The object of its introduction has 
not yet been fully attained. Wait. 

THE NEWSPAPER. 

The family newspaper, the g-reat disseminator of knowl- 
edg-e, is an important help in school work. It aids in teach- 
ing- orthography, grammar, g-eog-raphy, history and science. 
Since the commencement of the Hispano-American conflict, 
pupils from ten years old and upward are reading- the news- 
paper with as much interest as the older people. In many 
cases children are the first to meet the news-boy to get the 
first reading- of the dailv. 



100 A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

SCHOOL BUILDINGS. 

Before bring^ing this work to a close we must state that 
the first Burgfettstown school, a cut of which appears as the 
frontispiece, was tirst used in 1807. The board roof part is 
the original building-. The shing-le roof addition was built 
in 1862. The house was used for school purposes until some 
time in 1834. It is owned by John Divitt. The second build- 
ing-, now owned b}' Joseph Robinson, was used from 1834 un- 
til the summer of 1867. Former residents who have not been 
here since 1884 will have some difficulty in recognizing- it. 
The Woolen factory, built in 1829, which stood close to the 
left of the school house, was removed in 1884. The third 
building-, called the "Union School," was used from about 
April 1, 1868, until November 22, 1895. The present brick 
building-, of six rooms, was first used D.?cember 2, 1895. 



LIST OF TEACHEKS. 



101 



I_^i«r-^t e)f T^eeiolT^ei^^. 



I'AtiK. 

Allison, S. R 57 

Anderson, Miss Leila J . . 75 
Andrews, Miss Dora . ... 84 

Andrews, Miss Ina 84 

Armstrong-, Miss S. M. . . 48 
Armstrong-, Miss Annie . . 7(> 

Axtell, L. M 71 

Baker, V. B 58 

Baker, Mrs. V. B 58 

Baker, S. S 83 

Beal, Dr. L. C <)9 

Bilderback. G 51 

Bing-ham, Miss Marv A. .. 67 

Black, W. C 81 

Boal, A. G 91 

Boyce, Dr. James 46 

Bridgeman,!. M. and wife 90 
Brimner, Miss M. Ethie. . 76 

Brockman, Miss C. A 60 

Burg-ett, Miss E. M 64 

Campbell, James D 65 

Campbell, R. S 47 

Campbell, E 49 

Cowen, Miss A. M 87 

Cunning-ham, Miss N. J. .. 47 
Daug-herty, Miss Flora B. 74 

Dawson, R. W 68 

Dennis, A. P 78 

Dickson, Rev. D. F 89 

Dowden, Miss Ada L. . . . 85 

Dunbar, J. G 76 

Enoch, D. F 68 

Farabee, W. C 86 

Farrar, Jos 47 

Farrar, S. L 58 



Flemming-, Miss Mattie. . . 67 
Forrester, Miss Lizzie. . . 65 

Frazer, J. T 81 

Fredericks, Miss S. E 76 

Fredericks, Dr. J. W 90 

Fulton, James 44 

Fulton, W. S 57 

Fulton, A. W 85 

Galbraith, Rev. John.... 43 

Galbraith, J. A 48 

Galbraith, M. W 49 

Galbraith, Miss Lizzie... 71 
Ghrist, Miss Kate W... . 60 

Hammond, W. H 54 

Hamaker, Dr. W. D 72 

Harper, Miss S. W 83 

Howarth, James 90 

Hays, Hon. Joseph 56 

Hays, Miss Sarah 62 

Hobbs, Miss J. Etta 84 

Hoffman, Miss Lizzie .... 67 

Hornbake, J. D 82 

Jardine, Georg-e 51 

Jolly, Miss Mattie B 77 

Keys, Miss A. E 72 

Leopold, Miss C. A 59 

Log-an, J. C 44 

Lyne, W. C 62 

Marshall, Miss Sallie .... 58 
Matthews, Miss Lizzie . . . 50 

Melvin, William 55 

Miller, G. M U7 

Miller. J. R 89 

Minor, J. C 83 

Montg-omerv, W. P 57 



102 



A CENTURY OF EDUCATION. 



Montg-omerv, Miss J. E. . . 80 

Morris, Miss Sarah 71 

Moore, Dr. J. L 48 

McCabe, Miss L. C 75 

McCain, T. B 66 

McCalmont, Miss S 64 

McCalmont, Miss E. A. . . 65 

McCarrell, Dr. J. F 54 

McCarrell, Miss Lizzie ... 72 

McCord, Dr. G. T 59 

McCord, C. W. Esq 65 

McCracken, D. N 62 

McCuUoug-h, Dr. S. L. . . . 69 
McFarland, Miss S. A. . . 62 

McFarland, G. M 76 

McNarv, Miss Nancy .... 57 

Nichols, Miss L. J 81 

Osborn, Miss N. B 87 

Patterson, J. L 46 

Patterson, Miss Mary. ... 56 

Patterson, D. W 70 

Patterson, Dr. J. M 70 

Paxton, M 58 

Pees, W. W 87 

Phillis, J. B 48 

Phillips, Dr. H. S 61 

Porter, Miss E. A 69 

Porter, J. S 75 

Purdy, Miss A. M 82 

Purdy, Miss L. J 22 

Rankin, Miss A 88 

Reed, Miss C. B 76 

Richards, A. T 47 



Richardson, Gen. W. P. . . 45 

Riddile, Miss Anna M. . . 68 

Rog-ers, Dr. Joseph 43 

Rog-ers, Miss Mary. 88 

Simcox, Miss M. A 80 

Simmons, Miss E 64 

Smith, P 48 

Smith, J. A 80 

Smith, Rev. D. P 85 

Snodg-rass, M. R 76 

Stephenson, Miss E. N. . . 88 

Stevenson, J 49 

Stevenson, J. E 56 

Stevenson, Miss Alice. . . 72 

Stevenson, R. P 79 

Still wag-en, V. J 75 

Strain, Rev. J. B 46 

Sutherland, Rev. J. H. . . 78 

Swaney, Rev. Alex 43 

Taylor, Rev. Z. B 89 

Todd, Rev. John 89 

Tombaug-h, B. E 77 

Underwood, O. C 90 

Vance, C. J 72 

Vance, J. F 74 

Vance, Miss A. M 78 

Van Eman, W. W 50 

Weaver, Mrs. CM 82 

White, S. T 88 

White, A. M 89 

White, Miss Lois 90 

Wilson, Miss Emma 66 

Wilson, Miss Rea T 69 



INDEX. 103 



T'AtiE. 

Chapter 1. — History of Burg^ettstown 6 

Chapter 2. — First school in Smith township and early 

teachers 8 

Chapter 3. — The first teacher in Burg-ettstown — The first 
school building- — The teachers in that build- 
ing 9 

Chapter 4. — Other buildings and teachers — Letter of 

Hon. George S. Hart 11 

Chapter 5. — Second School Building- — Accepting the 
School Law — Smith township Schools in 
operation — List of those who taught public 
and private schools in the second building. 14 

Chapter 6. — The third school building 19 

Chapter 7. — The fourth school building and list of teach- 
ers — List of pupils in attendance December 

2, 1895 25 

Chapter 8. — Graduating classes — Alumnae 31 

Chapter 9. — Other schools since 1837 — Union Academy 

— Normal terms 36 

Chapter 10. — School directors of Burgettstown 40 

Chapter 11. — Free public library 42 

Chapter 12. — Biography 43 

Chapter 13.— Schools taught by William Melvin 91 

Chapter 14. — Teachers' Normal 93 

Chapter 15.— Then and Now 93 

Chapter 16. — School building-s — When used 100 



JUN20 1898 



